STRONG WORDS

Southland Times, Issue 20498, 29 May 1928, Page 7

STRONG WORDS

MR POLSON REBUKED MINISTER OF FINANCE HITS OUT “IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS” (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 28. “Mr Polson is the most irresponsible and reckless controversialist in the Dominion,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart when interviewed before leaving for the south tonight. “It is clear that he is still smarting from the fact that last year his erroneous interpretation of the trade figures in their bearing on the public finances was exposed and refuted. His recent speeches are an attempt to rehabilitate himself, but in each successive speech he not only continually changes his own figures, but what is more serious, he misquotes the statements of those who differ from him. It is interesting to note that even when he quotes the borrowing # for the last seven years he fails to point out that £15,700,000 loans were for State advances which cost the taxpayer nothing. Considering that many millions are released to help farmers in their difficulties, Mr Polson might have stated whether he disapproved of that aspect of our borrowing. At a later date I may deal more fully with the innumerable fallacies that he keeps t reiterating, but it would save time if he would put himself down to something definite by which he is prepared to stand or fall if his argument is to be of any value to the public.”