THE REFORM BUDGET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1512, 7 August 1912, Page 4

THE REFORM BUDGET.

11l V 'W D B fin ■ Sβ ■ B Vk m m 1 Mβ /■': i ' FEMSBONS SCHEME EXTENDED.- . { ' ■ SMPORTANT LAND,;-PROPOSALS , .' Union BALLOTS TO ..BE SECRET.

.■;' Longr ljcfore the House met last evening the>approaches to. the .doors giving' access '7tb~-'the.'galleries "wCTe.'thronKed w.ith peo'.'pld; 'aiid wlieii th'o.Minister for finance ;'({!>© 80n..' Jaiiies 'Allen) 'rote to make .hie ■•/Budget"■speech..; all. the . galleries were -.crowded,- and'every spnre .corner- on the "floor of the House was taken up .by strangers. Mr. Allen was greeted with a hearty •round; of'applause -'when.he rose to-speak. ■'Jjiii-pughout tic I '. t'jyo-Jiours which the ' reaiiiiig o£ tho speech occupied members were all-in their .places, and it was evident, .that the Minister had their. close attention. There was an occasional ironic"al "hciir, heai , " from' tho Opposition ' .beuc)icsi,and more frequent cardial "hear, ' hears" ifrpm tho. Government....tenches. Once,or;.twice the Opposition laughed in //<Sh , orus,."but tho'laughter, appeared to bo ; fd^.cca,;and it liad no , appreciable'effect o/i tjie,House. Mr. Allen sat doivn amid .' frpiii^raembers, •A■'lively.debate occurred on the Min- . ister's motion to refer ■ tho Estimates lo tlio Public Accounts Committee—mi! ,en'- , ;tirely new departure, i'irst the Opposition leaders',' ami especially , .' Sir Joseph -Ward, objected' to . ilia proposal' on the ground that they did not kuow the. names /of ''■ the "'committee; • It was pointed oul '.'_'tH&t siitiilar tliirigs''were done repeatedly but tho , ,'nnines. were none the less supplied.* 'J'hen,.S^r : Jqseph objected that of tljo committee would be too busy to'undertake the work. This objection ';was; not- pressed strenuous- , ly.and the, motion was carried. Afterwards, in the House, the conimitteo was set up, and the House rose at 10.5 p.m.