SIR JOSEPH WARD

Wairarapa Age, 18 November 1919, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

REPLY TO THE PREMIER. (By 'lelegraph—Press Association 1 * IKVERCARGILL, Xast Night. ' Sir Joseph Ward, at Waikiwi, tonight, replied to „Mr Massey slid Sir James, Allen's criitieism of hie Winton speech, regarding the Supplementary Estimates. He stated that his figures were quite correct, and included extra amounts in the Appropriation Bill ami other Bills not stated in the Supplementary Estimates or the Appropriation Bill. Sir Joseph Ward stated that he had nothing to do with the Estimates, or with the Budget proposals for the current year. He concluded the Budget up to March 31st. 1919, and left a surplus of £3,670,773. In reply to the Premier's Papakura speech, Sir Joseph Ward said that in one item alone he urged in the Houbo a reduction of £7,000,000. He had never, in his experience, Known anything approaching the enormous liabilities oow submitted by way of loan" proposals. Regarding the use of tho surplus or £15,000,000, Sir Joseph Ward declared %hat it" was madness to think I of raising even half the necessary loans in this cuontry, and if that surplus was kept as a sinking fujnd, three times its amount could be raised in Britain, or America, at, a much smaller discount than if there were no sinking fund. Dealing with the charge of elec-' tioneering in regard to the soldiers' gratuity, Sir Joseph Ward said the rreraier. got authority for £60,000,000, and now declared that only a quarter of £30,262,000, outside,' of ordinary expenditure, was required. Why was & necessary to ask Parliament for such a huge sum if only a quarter could he spent? Replying to the Hon. J. G. Contes 're the Post and Telegraph war bonus he said the decision to appoint someone to inquire as to what was promised by him as Postmaster-General was unique in the history of the country. He agreed that if the bonus was paid to the Post and Telegraph officers, it should also be paid to officers of other State Departments, giving equal treatment to all fhe lower-paid men of the Public Service.