EXPLANATION WANTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8588, 26 November 1913, Page 6

EXPLANATION WANTED

We still await explanations from Ministers or the Tory newspapers of how and why the public finances went so seriously to tho bad during tho September quarter. Surely it is time the conspiracy of silence was broken and the peoplo wore offered whatever excuses may he forthcoming. When we find expenditure mounting up six times as fast as revenue, we are entitled—the public is justly entitled —to know the reasons, particularly since the Government had promised wonderful economies and reductions in expenditure. Wo know tho Government cannot control the revenue, but they aro certainly expected to have a watchful eye on tho other side of the account, and keep tho finances somewhere in the region of a safe margin. But even hero we are conceding too much, because that part of the revenue derived. from taxation —roughly one-half of tho total —is subject to the policy of the Government of the day. And tho avowed policy of the Tory Government was to reduce taxation, especially through the Customhouse, and thereby lessen the cost of living. It is impossible to blame the strike for an increase in Customs revenue of over £IIO,OOO in the September quarter, because tho strike did not commence until near the end of October. The heavy rise in this form of taxation is a severe indictment of the Tory Government and party. The Hon- W, F. Massey definitely pledged himself at election time —it was one of the prime conditions upon which ho secured votes —to reduce the cost of living by means of Customs remissions. Instead of that promise having been kept, the cost of living and the Customs taxation are alike higher than they were ever before in the history of tho country. Once more, will the Government explain ?