SATURDAY, JULY 27. 1907. NOTES.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIX, Issue 778, 27 July 1907, Page 4

SATURDAY, JULY 27. 1907. NOTES.

The debate on the Fii.iin.-j.il Statement collapsed somewhat suddenly on Wednesday night. The members had noc sufficient energy, or the necessary knowledge of the subject, to keep it going. This result may have been in part brought about by the large majority the Government hold ; but considering the extent to which members launched out on the Addrcss-in-Reply debate, it seems most peculiar that they missed the opportunity presented by the Statement for discussing the "finances oi' the colony. However, some of the representative men on both sides took part, and perhaps the unspoken ideas of the silent ones will not involve a very great loss to tlie community. However, the closing of the debate will mean a great saving of time .and will enable the business of the session to be pushed on with expedition. The Premier closed up the discussion wiih a characteristic fighting speech, in which he disposed with ease ol' the Opposition arguments. Sir Joseph Ward was very effective in dealing with those members who, on the one liand, denounced the Government for borrowing money, and at the same time kept on pressing for expenditure on works in their own districts. His defence of the land proposals of the Government was effective, and his references to the proposed changes in the tariff were apposite. The honours of tbe debate certainly rested with the Government, and it is evident that they have nothing to fear from any attack by the existing Opposition.

The framing of the tariff will evidently prove a difficult matter for the Government. There are many diverse and conflicting interests at stake. With the further time allowed For consideration, several anomolies have been detected. Some dealers do not like the new Government duties; the local bodies complain of the increased expense cast upon them by the additional levies on cast iron pipes. The mining interests are up in arms at the increase in the tariff on engines, boilers, and electrical inachinery. They allege that the additional duties are likely to seriously hamper mining development. Objection is taken

to many other lines, and while it is claimed that the tariff proposals have been under review for the past ten months, it is fairly clear that the true position in all cases has not beon ascertained . Whether the Government will be able to fix the new tariff at the rates outlined by Sir Joseph Ward is an open question, but there will be some interesting divisions before tho Bill reaches the Statute Book.

It will be a relief to the members of Parliament generally, to know that tliere is no possibility of an amending Licensing Bill coming down this session. This information was given by the Premier to a deputation representing the licensed victuallers' interests which waited upon him last Meek. There is no subject that creates so much turmoil or is productive of so much hypocrisy, as the liquor question, and neither the Government nor House wants to see a Licensing Bill brought forward this Parliament. A phase of the liquor traffic question will, however, be placed befoie Parliament this session ni tlie shape of a measure to regulate the setting up of breweries and beervending establishments outside the boundaries of no-license districts. The no - license people think that under present circumstances the facilities for getting beer into prohibited districts are too great, and an attempt will be made to meet their remonstrance on the subject The discussion upon this will doubtless raise many other points in regard to the liquor traffic. but tlie Government is firmly determined (so a correspondent states) not to go beyond its present proposal.

Attached to the annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department for the last year is a table showing tho amount of transactions at the scvorn 1 money-order and savings bank offices in New Zealand during the year 19:)6. From these we learn that at the Dannevirke office during the period named the orders issued numbered 3672, for a sum of £16,022 10s Bd. The amount deposited in the Savings Bank was £41,050 lis lOd. These, figures are very satisfactory, and show the steady progress being made by the town. (At Feilding, for instance, the money orders issued only totalled £11,849* 16s 4d, and at Hawera £9127 6s 3d.