Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3.500 Copies Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1908. BOGUS SURPLUSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8545, 27 March 1908, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3.500 Copies Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1908. BOGUS SURPLUSES.

Mb. Samuel. Vaile, of Aiicldand,.who is known chiefly through his criticism of railway management, has been dealing lately with Government surpluses —that delightful fiction which appeals so strongly to credulous people. Mr Vaile is one of those hard-headed, practical men, who are not prepared to accept Ministerial surpluses without proof that they really exist, and in this connection he has put some questions to the Government, the reply to which will be interesting. As is generally known,, "surpluses" have become quite prolific during the regime of the Seddon and Ward Administrations, and m criticising the former Mr Vaile_ commences with the year 1897, so that the actions of predecessors may not be taken into consideration. He points out that during the period 1897 to 1907 inclusive the Seddon Government claimed to have surpluses every year ranging from £270,488 to £788,794, and totalling for the eleven years £6,151,996, and the public are also reminded that this great amount was said to exist after paying all requirements year by year. Assuming that these amounts were received, Mr Vaile makes the following pertinent enquiries:—" (1) What possible necessity could there have been for raising fresh loans during the same period and increasing the public debt to the extent- of £21,128,260. (2) According to the Government's statement, they have received and dealt with public money to the extent of £27,280,256, or an average of £2,480,023 per annum. There is no doubt they have got through the amount, but wliat I want to know is what have they given us for it? (3) If, as they say, the yearly revenue of the Dominion has been sufficient not only to pay all the yearly requirements of the country, but that they also had in addition an average surplus of £559,272 all through these 11 years, I say what right had they during the same period to increase the taxation of the community by £1 16s 4d per head of the white population?" Mr Vaile, however, has the courage to assert that never since Mr Seddon became Premier has there been a surplus of a single pound. The whole thing is simply an array of bogus figures, put together, and now being paraded for the purpose of deceiving the electors." Mr Vaile's inquisitiveness will not be appreciated by the Government, who will not display any anxietv to give the information desired.