THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 32, 29 May 1914, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

SPEECH AT LAWRENCE.

[Per Press Association.] Lawrence, May 28

! Hon James Allen addressed a I meeting of his constituents here this evening. He pointed out that the surplus for the year, amounting to £l2B 905 did not include the cash derived from sales and from deferred payment sales. All the cash from sales of land had been credited to the Land for Settlement account, the gain being over £135,000. The public would thus see how much stronger this account was than it had ever been before. There had been an all-round increase in pensions of £32,000 As for those people who cried out about the defence expenditure he was sure they would be pleased to know there had been a decrease in the expenditure .of £16,698. The Government had done several things to make the burden of living easier for those who found themselves in difficulties. For instance, provision had been made to give the Land Tax Commissioner power to grant remission from land tax to widows with children. Provision had also been made in regard to the income tax for an additional exemption of £25 for each child dependent on a parent. Taxation on flax lands was amended. These reforms should reduce the cost of living to some people, at any rate. The public should not place too much importance on the reduction of Customs duty as a means of reducing the cost of living. This was very largely an electioneering cry. On the question of defence, the Minister said the Government's policy was to train men for the British Navy, and nothing else at the present time. Mr Massey had said 'he proposed to ask Parliament to supply one cruiser at la cost of £400,000 to £500,000, but he had no doubt Mr Massey would inot press that question this session, as a conference was to bo called in London next year.

A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously.