LOANS FOR LOCAL WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15729, 2 October 1914, Page 4

LOANS FOR LOCAL WORKS.

The answer given to Mr. Myers in tho House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister for Finance shows that the Government is prepared to.make every possible sacrifice to advance money to local bodies in cases where employment is involved. The caution given to local bodies was a necessary outcome of tho temporary financial dislocation 1 caused by tho outbreak of war, and Mr. Allen was able to. say that <it has been accepted in that spirit. New Zealand can make no better use of the money at its disposal than to spend it in reproductive works, whether local or national. With this limitation local applications should bo encouraged.as far as funds will permit. Mr. Allen expresses the same idea when ho speaks of postponing expenditure on works where no inconvenience or unemployment is caused by the delay. Reproductive works can never be conveniently postponed. If we had neither the men nor the money to carry them on we would perforce have to submit to the inconvenience, but when men are waiting whatever money is obtainable should bo spent ungrudgingly. . If we have to economise on account of the war there are numberless national and local luxuries which can be cut out before we begin to curtail expenditure on reproductive public works. The cost of equipping , and maintaining the. expeditionary force has been heavy, and it is easily understood tjhat in providing for this unforeseen expenditure the Minister for Finance has had no easy task. But we can trust Mr. Allen and his colleagues to see that the loan which has been satis factorily arranged is mado available at as early a date as possible and that the delay in urgently necessary railway, and road construction is reduced to a minimum.