THE EMPTY TREASURY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 2

THE EMPTY TREASURY.

TO THJ! BDITOH. Sir, —Sir Joseph Ward in his speech at the Thames last night quotes the " Otago Daily Times " as a recognised financial authority, and states that paper admitted his_ figures were correct when he stated that he left a balance in the Treasury of £807,000. I suppose Sir Joseph thought he was far enough away from home to continue the policy of bluff that ho lias been playing so consistently during the last few months. I would like to quote from the "Otago Daily Times" to prove that wliile they did not dispute the surplus in the Consolidated Fund nor yet has any member of Government, they clearly showed in their leading article on j May 6 that Sir Joseph Y/ard was merely bluffing the public by quoting the! Consolidated Fund when all the criticism of the Government has been J levelled against the Public Works. Fund. Sir Joseph Ward knows that the bulk of the public aro not aware | that these are two distinct funds. The ; : Otago Daily Times" says: " It ! is possible, of course, that a politician who juggles skilfully with the figures of these accounts may succeed in producing a state of mental confusion in j persons unacquainted with the rospec- ■ tivo purposes of the two funds, and I apparently Sir Joseph Ward relies upon I his ability to obscure the issue by this method." i The "Times," continuing, states "that | when Sir Joseph Ward left office the I balance in the Public Works Fund had I dwindled down to £83,580. In other j words an amount sufficient to provide lor about two weeks' requirement?? was all that remained." Sir Joseph W r ard i knows quite well that he dare not speak in this way in tho House when confronted by financial authorities. The best evidence of this is seen in that ' during the last two financial debates his voice was not heard.—l am, etc., DAVID JONES. June 2.