BUDGET—AND BUNGLE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 33, 7 August 1914, Page 6

BUDGET— AND BUNGLE

An incident in the House ' of [Representatives' last evening cannot fail to give New Zealanders a very unpleasant feeling that their Parliament compares unfavourably, in this crisis, with other Legislatures of the Empire. In Britain, Canada, Australia, all , political parties have become one party, a party of Britons. The phrase " Hisi Majesty's Opposition" has been put aside, and the leaders of the parties 1 which are not in power are in splendid co-opera-tion with the Governments for the welfare of the Empire. Here there is the same hearty willingness to have a truce to party fighting, and' a fellowship for the common good has been observable, but this harmony was disturbed yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward declared that the Budget — a contentious document — should not bo introduced during these days of national suspense. The Premier disagreed; each leader was obstinate, and the deplorable finale to the party clash came with the march-out of the Opposition and Labour members when the Hon. James Allen began to read the Budget. Mr. Massey had reason to dispute some of the statements made by Sir Joseph Ward, but the Premier should have perceived the inadvisableness of thrusting the Budget upon an extremely unwilling recipient. "When | one reads how Nationalists and Ulstermen have agreed to fight shoulder to shoulder for the Empire, or any part* of it, one, wonders why it was not pos- | sible for Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey to effect a compromise and so save the dignity of themselves, Parliament, and New Zealand. The public's mood will be to censure both leaders — and our impression is that Mr. Massey will be moie blamed thai' Sir Joseph Ward, be.ca.uso it was within the power 1

of the Premier to offer, privately or publicly, reasonable terms of peace. Now that- a bungle has occurred, it is the duty of all parties to do their best to make amends for the muddle. The Budget should now be put on furlough till Parliament, the public, and the press can give it the necessary study. Anything like a Budget debate would be an absurdity at this time when the people ha.ye their minds bent upon the supreme naval test in and about the North Sea. The principal figures for the financial year ended 31st March have been given, approximately, at intervals during the past few months, and the policy proposal are in line with Ministerial announcements. „ There is nothing revolutionary. Of course, a policy which was drawn up before the war began ca-n be regarded as only provisional, andtherefore comment on some of the features is better reserved.