THE DOMINION'S FINANCES.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13421, 19 March 1914, Page 4

THE DOMINION'S FINANCES.

STATEMENT BY OPPOSITION LEADER. [United Pkesb Association.] Wellington, March 18. . Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at $ social tendered to Lady Ward" by the Women's Social and Political League, dealt briefly with financial matters. Mr. Massey's statement at Nelson that any of the settlers present could finance "the country better than tha Liberals did was ridiculous. Sir Joseph said he believed tho country;s position was financially strong to-day, and it was so when the Liberals left office. No Treasurer of the Dominion had been left in a stronger position than the present Minister of Finance. They had never found the Liberals injuring the credit of the country. The Liberals had never done anything to. discredit the Treasurer on leaving these shores for Home to obtain a loan. Tha last loan was well subscribed, but row did the Reform Government account for the fact that the Prussian loan v,as subscribed, not fourfold, but 72-fold. The Liberal finance had never failed to give sufficient-money for the country's needs. Renewals of loans were £;oinß lon during the whole period the Liberals were in office, but the Liberals had rot been so foolish as to talk about them on tho platform until compelled to. While in Opposition the Reformers engot into office they used the Liberals'" Administration, yet as soon as they, got into office they used the Liberal's successes as aids to obtain their owu loans.