NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18663, 20 March 1924, Page 8

NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

"BOTTOM TO THE FUND." HARASSED PRIME MINISTER. PROBLEMS OF FINANCE. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CCBIMSFOJIDENT.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The condition of the public finances was referred to by the Prime Minister to-day, in replying to a deputation from the Forestry League. "Please understand that the (Consolidated Fund is not unlimited; there is a bottom to. that fund, and if lam not very careful there will be no (Consolidated Fund left." This remark was made' by Mr. Massey when the deputation asked that financial provision be made for purchasing further lands for State forest purposes^ Incidentally; Mr. Massey made an important statement as to the condition of the railway superannuation fund, for which £100,000 has to be found to strengthen it. . "Youare the third deputation which has come to iae - this morning asking for; a large mum of money," Mr. Massey said.. " Now I have one request, and it. has to be 'Complied with. That is, £100,000 to strengthen up the railway superannuation fund. There is no chance of doing anything else btffc meeting it. We cannot allow the fund to come to grief." . ... Proceeding, the Prime Minister said: " I 'had another request for some public works .which I -do not knovr that we should have been called upon to undertake, and it amounts to £250,000. I do not know h6w much your request comes to; I cannot tell. It makes me feel' inclined sometimes to ss.y you had better get someone else to look after the finances of the country, I can't keep it in check, r I never saw anything- like it." . Mr. Massey said that the Itominion would have to go abroad for two or three million bushels of wheat. "Wo cannot avoid it," he said. " People must have foodstuffs, and wo must do it. Wo will get that money back right away, I am sure of that."At a later .stage, Mr. Ma,ssey added that he would be quite willing;, to . do everything possible to nelp forestry, _ but it must be practical. I. am not going* to be any partv to wasting nioilsiy," ■ he declared. ""The country cannot afford it." ... ! - ' '