THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11954, 5 August 1904, Page 5

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

. — m — . , | MORE CRITICISM OP THE (XMKS* MENT. (6TEOIAL TO "TH_ MISS.") WELLINGTON, Angwt 4. :'. Mr Lewis, who «poke to-night in tht Budget debate, pointed out that «no» tfc» member for Wiukatiptt had spoken, '■ members had addressed the Howse. these no fewer than thirteen we» Q-sWin?----ment supportew, while only thwe *•«•'■ Opposition members. That showed veef clearly that it was not tho Opposition who were prolonging the debate. Mr Lew_" criticked severely the manner in yh* c h ' appointments Wero made to QowmnjliA billets, and tlw patronage phwsed » tea t hands of members who supported «*• Ministry. Ho scored strongly again* U» Premier in connection with tlie blocking of Mr Herdman's PubTw Serrioe Bill. I* appeared that Mr Lewis had been bating over wine old records in the litaary, •$& that lie had come upon a rejected BUI «f some years ago, exactly on sll fours wittt Mr Herdman'a BilL It provided for tho t-sta'blMiment of a New Zealand JUilws-Ts and Public Service Board. -That Bill, "continued Mr Lewis, iris introduced by a gentleman, called -Seddon. (Uilgbtor.) Now, bo far aa he wa« aware, there had been only one Mr Seddon in tho _*ew: Zealand Parliament. # Mr Seddon: "What date was tbalT" Mr Lewis: "1803." Mr Seddon: "But I was in opposition then." (Laughter). p .' Mr Massey: " But the Government did not object to your bringing in snA a Bill-" "■"%■ 7\\ Mr Lewis: "No, they w*» not afraid to let an Opposition man introduce a Bat like that." (Hear, hear.) [At this stage; Mr H. Hawkins, l_*, newly-elected rawnher for 7P«hiataa toolC the oath and his seat.] Mr Lewis, dealing with the CHrU «*"* vice, said it yram in tbe minor appointments that great favouritism was shown. In the interests of the colony Crown tenants should be given the option of porehasing tho freehold. Hie Pahiatoa eko.. tion, ho declared, had gone ft long way to disprove tho contention that Crown tenant* did not desire the option of tho freehold. He was prepared to give the freehold to everybody who had a 993 years' lease.