FROM THE GALLERY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 3

FROM THE GALLERY

"WHERE ARE THEY?" It was noticeable that when Mr J. B. Hine was speaking on the Addrees-in-Reply on Tueeoay the seats in the House usually occupied by the Ministry were empty, the only member of Cabinet in hie place being the Hon. Dr i’onuire. Mr Hine was extolling the Government' for their work, when Mr G. W. Hassell (Avon) pointed to the Ministerial Beats and broke in with the question "Where axe they?” The Opposition immediately took up the cry, amd there was a chorus of ‘TVhere are thov?” Some minutes later the Hon. W. £i. Herries took his seat. The Opposition smiled, and there was a chorus of “Ah. here they come!” "HAVE A SHOT AT NELSON.' ‘‘The member tor Nelson told the Min. ister of Guoiouitt that ue had uo cuuuce for Wellington Central next election, anu il 1 were tnat jvumster i think i woiua have a shot at iNax&on." ‘i'nus Mr D. lluick ihuunerston ivorth) in the course of hIK remarks in the House on Tuesday. JL'uis was received with Government hear, hears, but a simmer went round the House when Mr Atmore interjected ‘‘He would And Ealiuerston much easier," THEIR ALIAS. “It is a beautiful word that—‘Reform/ " said Mr G. Laurenson, M.h. in the House of . Repreeen tatr. ves during the AUdress-iu-iteply debate. “It is a splendid alias. We are always suspicious of the man who is Thomas Smith, alias Jones, alxas Brown, and nearly always that man was in trouble. The Government party have been in trouble for a very long time, and their aliases are many and various.” STATE-GUARANTEED ADVANCES. According to the report of the superintendent of the Utate Guaranteed Advances Udice for the year ending March 31st. 1913, the advances paid over to settlers during the year numbered 20X9, and the loans so paid amounted to -6850,300. The ttoal amount of advances actual- paid over during the year for both the Advances to Settlers and Advances to Workers‘ branches was J91.299.5C0. The advances current are;— Amount. Not exceeding -£SOO ... 14,024 2,897,485 £SOO-£IOOO 2.811 2,115,938 -61000-J9JOOO 12123 1,913.3il £2i)H>-£3COO . 209 531.031 18.397 7,457,817 The average currentadvanoe is ,£405. The amount advanced on freenold is £5,383,222; and on leasehold is 211.909,063; on freehold and leasehold combined £165,631. Advances on rural and urban and suourban land were: — Rural land 11,589 4.873.592 Urban and suburban 6.808 2,584.225 18.397 7.457,817 The average rural advance was -6421; average urban and suburban advances .£3BO. Advances to settlers for the year were ; Not exceeding .£SOO 1,651 502-OTO £so(i-£looo 2aß 182.640 £looo-£2OOO ,£2OOO-JE3OOO 2,019 850.300 The total sum raised by the Government for investment on mortgage since the deoartment was started is £8,085,614. The gross profits for the year were £83,503 and the cost of management and expenses were -611,382, or 2s 10d per -£IOO of capital employed. The net profits amounted to £73,864. of which the sum of -644.958 has been applied in writing down loan charges. The sinking fund, which now stands at .£32j,904, was augmented by £80.856 and -610,463 interest, during the year.