THE PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2454, 19 March 1909, Page 5

THE PREMIER.

SPEECH AT LYTTELTON. (Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March IS At the complirnenary banquet tendered to Mr. G.. Laurenson, M.P., at Lyttelton, Sir j. G. M ard, in the ooui.-.e of his speech, replied vigorously to the allegations recently made by the leader of the Opposition to the effect that appointments to the public service bad been improperly made,that persons were being appointed over the heads ot those higher on the list, and persons were being appointed who had not passed any examinations. He read a memo, from Mr. Hugh Pollen, Under-secretary for Internal Affairs, to the effect that both allegations were false, and that all vacancies had been filled in accordance with the Civil Service Reform Act, 1886, and the regulations. He (Mr. Pollen) bad never been asked lit any W ay by any Minister to depart from his statutory duties in the matter of these appointments. Respecting! the use made by Mr. Massey of certain remarks made by Sir Robert Stout at tlio universitv Senate, practically to the same effect* as the above-mentioned allegations, Sir; J. G. Ward read a cable message from Sir Robert Stout, stating that be made it clear that be did notrefer to the recent administration of the Act. Referring to finances, Sir ' Joseph Ward stated that the figures reoarding the post office savings bank showed deposits for the uionths of January and February last totalled .£1,001,691. and withdrawals Cl.dl-LOi3, an excess of deposits over withdrawals ot $37,617. He indicated that Parliament would be asked to reduce the areas of separate sections offered under the j Lands for Settlement Act. It would i bo bis dutv in the course of the next' few weeks* to place tho policy of the j Government before the people, and to . indicate the proposed legislation for next- j session. At present the finances of the j Dominion promised to bear out the estimate lie placed before Parliament last session. All the. Government’s finances were fixed up to October next, - an important thing for people of all classesto know. Sir Joseph left for: Wellington by the Moeraki.