MR. WILKINSON AT ELTHAM

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1930, Page 10

MR. WILKINSON AT ELTHAM

GOVERNMENT AND THE DEFICIT. UNITED’S POLITICAL CAPITAL. Mr.- C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., addressed the electors of Egmont at Eltham on Wednesday evening, the Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger) presiding over a good attendance. The speaker touched upon political matters in similar terms to his previous addresses in other parts of the electorate. He said it was the first opportunity he had to personally thank the electors of Eltham for returning him at the last election. He had lived among them for the past 46 years, and he greatly appreciated their support. Referring briefly to the evils of the party system of government, Mr. Wilkinson made a fresh suggestion for electing the executive. He said that it might be possible to obtain better administration if 4he House elected the Ministry, and the Ministry selected the Prime Minister. Touching upon the Government’s system of paying 14s. a day on relief works, Mr. Wilkinson said that the Prime Minister had stated that the speaker’s statement regarding the deficit was unsound, and that the Government would not do anything that was unsound financially. Mr. Wilkinson questioned whether the payment of £2 for £1 subsidy to shave off corners and do a lot of unnecessary work around towns was sound financially. , Men were being attracted to the towns, while the country was crying out for things to be done, and he asked why taxpayers should be called on to pay for work that should be done by the towns themselves. In his previous addresses Mr. Wilkinson referred to the deficit of £577,000 which resulted during the last financial year of the Reform Government. He stated that the' United Party had made the most of this deficit, but he did not think that his comments in this respect were wrong, and they certainly did not call for a reply a newspaper column in length from the Prime Minister. The speaker reiterated that the United Party found this deficit to be a godsend, but he pointed out that the United Party was in office from December to March of the financial period concerned, and could have taken steps to have the deficit adjusted. It was only fair to mention that there were accumulated surpluses showing a profit of two and a half millions after paying off the deficit. Two items alone in the Budget were sufficient to have wiped out. the deficit altogether.

The speaker considered that the profits of State enterprises should be paid into the public fund. The Auditor-Gen-eral, the highest financial official in the country, endorsed the speaker’s views in this respect. If the public revenue were not to receive the profits, but had to stand all the what was the value of going in for there enterprises? The Government took a share of the large profits made by the Bank of New Zealand, and why should it not take the profits of the post office savings bank? Last year there was a small surplus of £150,000, but this year there was to be a three-million deficit. That was not a cheerful prospect, and the taxpayers would have to look forward to having to pay more taxes. That was not a very cheering outlook, declared the speaker. On the motion of Mr. L. Nairn, seconded by Mr. W. Newson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Wiixinson. PLUNKET SOCIETY’S? BALL. successful Annual event. Always a'popular function, the Stratford Plunket Society’s annual ball last night proved no exception. There was a large attendance of townspeople and visitors. Executed under the control of Mrs. E. H. Young, the decoration scheme in the hall was at once striking and attractive. Taking autumn tinted streamers as a basis, Mrs. Young, with the assistance of a band of willing helpers, secured an effect that left no loopholes for criticism. The usual bell style of centrepiece was ignored. Airs. Young used a square centre with pendant cascade from which to run the delicately coloured streamers to ’ the sides of the hall. Festoons ornamented the walls. From the electric globes with flower shades there issued a diffused' mellow light. Greenery was utilised to complete the scheme. . Mrs. L. Riera evolved the scheme for the supper room. Pink and rose effects were obtained with cunningly constructed artificial flowers. Dancing went with a swing to music by Renton’s dance band. Extras were played by Alessrs K. N. Neal and M. Thomson. Air. P. Skoglund was master of ceremonies. Even if the popularity of the ball had depended upon the supper alone its success would have been assured. TRIPS TO THE MOUNTAIN. The Stratford Alountain Club has compiled a list of trips that will be held under its auspices during the next three • months. Trips proposed at present are:—July 6, Kapuni via Wilkie’s Pools, or ski track; July 27, Waipuku crushing site or ski track; August 17, Dawson Falls or ski track; .September 7, Ngarara. THIRD GRADE RUGBY. Prior to the Possibles v. Probables junior football match at Stratford yesterday the Stratford Technical High School third grade team defeated Stratford thirds by five points to three. PERSONAL. Air. H. E. Abraham, Stratford, is seriously ill with pneumonia. He is an inmate of Alarire hospital. Air. W. Carman, who was seriously injured in an accident on Afount Egmont, is reported to be making good progress.