THE PUBLIC FINANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5600, 29 May 1905, Page 2

THE PUBLIC FINANCES.

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.”) . Sir, —I have just read your article of May 15th in which you make reference to remarks of mine on the Financial Statement last year. You quote only a portion of what I said, and draw an entirely misleading, conclusion. In fairness to me and to those who road your journal, I ask you to publish this letter. You say: “Taking Mr J. Allen ns an authority, wo find that he sets down tho total amount, including the post and telegraphs,, at £25,000," and again, “according to Mr Alien the total for the year is £25,000.” It is obvious you wished the publio to understand that I had said tho total transfers from revenue account to Public Works Fund for the year were roughly estimated by me at £25,000. Lest tho publio, should be so misled, I write to sayT made no such statement, on the contrary, I estimated tho transfers for tho year from revenue to Public Works Fund to be £149,000, without taking into consideration any amounts charged for addition to open lines, which should correctly have been charged to revenue, and which it was impossible to estimate without reference to the railway books.

I also stated "that the true surplus can bo shown only when the sum I have represented, together with any other amounts, as, for instance, some of the amounts for additions to open lines, wrongly charged to Public Works Account, are- deducted.” As bearing on the question, I should be glad if you would publish in your paper the enclosed reply by me to the Bight Hon. R. J. Seddon's speech at Pahiatua, on the matter of improper charges on the Public Works Fund.—l am, etc., JAMES ALLEN. Dunedin, May 23rd. fWo cannot find room for Mr Allen's reply to Mr Seddon'o Pahiatua speech, which would occupy about a column and a half of space. It is in substance an amplification of what is fetatod in the foregoing letter, and its value is discounted by the fact that Mr Allen relies on of his own. not based on accurate knowledge.—Editor "N.Z. Times.”]