THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 317, 6 December 1906, Page 3

THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS.

THE PREMIER AT AWAHOU. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FARMERS. [United Pbess Association.]

WELLINGTON, Thursday. Speaking at the opening of the Awahou bridge, tho Premier said the p onoers who were ffoinfj out into the back-blocks deservod every consideration from the Government. But he pointed out that the. Government was now spending at the rat« of £2,600,000 a year on public works, such as roads, railways, and public buildings, and were borrowing at the rate of £1,000,000 a year for. public works, and if asked for more the position of the country might bo made fmanoially •anything but pleasant to the. people. Therefore, the people should take a broad view of the matter. He and his colleagues and every member of Parliament were anxious to assist settlers, and he advised therrj, if anyone should say the Government was not anxious to help the farmers, or that it would do anything 'to hurt farmers, or that its policy I was inimical to the best interests of farmers, to accept his statement that this was entirely contrary to t.he wishes and aspiiiat-ions ol members of the Ministry. - He for one Would not be a party to anything of the kind. Sir Joseph paid j a tribute to the late Mr Pitt, At-torney-Generaf, and said his successor (Dr Findlay/ would bo a ffreat accession to the public life of the country.- !