THE DEBATE.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 149, 26 June 1891, Page 2

THE DEBATE.

Mr. Duthio is improving as a public speaker, but we hopo ha does not inkiui to often inflict a twb hours' oimbilh on a suffering Hotrt<e. HJa stylo is not a lively ono, ■ nor are his accents so honeyed as to cause his hearors to hang entranced for a couple of hours on the words whioh fall from his lips. Bnt he spoke well and to tho point lait night, and thoro is much matter for reflection and consideration in what ho said It was a well thought-ont speech, although he did get a littlo mixed and prosy when referring to English pauperism. On the subjects of tho exodus and land settlement, Mr. Dutbio was ominently practical, and Hioi'o Was a groat deal of truth in hi(. unfavourable criticism of tho rotrendhtnent carried out by the Government. Mr. Duthie evidently Bbaros with us the fears wo have so often expressed that tho financial policy of the Government cannot bo depended on to produtie the revonuo which is required .to sustain tho ?, reel H < ? f ,» th^ col s n^ With i" 8 remarks on the Public Trust Enquiry we entirely disagree, and if there haa UZa a want of proper ParliameHtary supervision over that department it is tn,e leaders of his own party who alfoehiefly blanieable.. His opposition to tho abohtiOn of su^-contraoting is aM fcufprislhg, because 5n this matter lue action taken by th.o preset Administration is in strict accordance with the courso proved to 1 o ?T e °S??£ y '- and . "» England. Why Mr. M'Guire should have thought it necessary to speak at ail when ho ovidently had nothing to gay which was worth tho trouble Cx utterance wo aro unable to understand. Captain Russell's was an oxcellent spoeoh, well arranged, easy in dolivery. not too heavy in style, and actually bristling with good points. It was perhaps the most effectively damaging attack yet made oh tho Government proposals. His artillery was lighter than Mr. Scobio Mackenzie's, but it Was quite as destructive. His bold deqlaratiori -in favoiir of tlid abolition of all exemptions ,ffdin riroporty taxation, and Bis ilb'.sti'atibh of the working of tbo proposed .£3OOO exemption, produced a markod offect upon tho House, and tho Labour representatives woro notod to join most hoartily in the woll deserved applauso which Captain Russell's speooh evoked.