HOW MEMBERS VIEW THE BUDGET.

Evening Star, Issue 9776, 5 August 1895, Page 3

HOW MEMBERS VIEW THE BUDGET.

l URTHER OPINIONS.

Dissatisfied ministerialists, i

[Mv Obit Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, August 3.

Now that members have bad time to read the Financial Statement less reticence i« displayed by them when asked to express an opinion on the proposals contained therein than immediately after hearing the Treasurer readhiaßudget. I give some further opinions, which may be of interest in anticipation of the Financial debate, beginning to-morrow evening Mr T. Mackenzie states that he has not had time to go fully into the long-drawn-out Financial Statement. He considers it irritable in tone, and some of the foieshadowed promises are never likely to be fulfilled—to wit, the extinguishment of the colonial debt. There is a good deal of Colonel Sellars, of * Gilded Age’fame, about that scheme. Subsidising a double line of steamers to America by raising an extra £20,000 from widows and orphans is a scheme not likely to find much favor from our married colonists. Aidiug colonial revenue by seizing £27,000 accretions connected with the sinking fund created under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1892, he regards a characteristic move. On the question of fiscal reform the member for Clutha, who was one of tho Tariff Commissioners, says that the proposed reform, so far as disclosed, will in the total hit heavily the class which the Commission desired most to a'd. The whole effect will be to raise fuPy £50,000 more revenue than hist year based on the same returns.

Mr Carr,cross (Taieri) delivered himself to this effect: The Statement appears to me to bo a business-like production, entirely free from fireworks, and will, 1 think, in the main, commend itself to the people. I strongly approve of the reciprocity treaties with South Australia ami Canada, and think it would be more beneficial to the colony if politicians paid more attention to the opening up of iresh markets and less attention to party wrangles and personal recriminations on the iloor of the House. Opening up fresh markets for our agricultural produce must largely aid in bringing back prosperity to New Zealand, ami any improvement in our agricultural industry must benefit every class of industry. A subsidy of £20,000 per annum for a Canadian-Pacific mail service may seem a large amount, but possibly a reduction can fie made upon that sum. I approve of the Treasurer’s suggestion that we should face the question of making provision for the extinction of our indebtedness. Reducing the rates of interest to local bodies is another good suggestion, and would afford considerable relief. With an estimated excess of receipts over expenditure of only £9,357 for the year ending 31st March, 1896, it is evident that we have very little to come and go upou, and economical administration will be a stern necessity ; but the rise in wool and the generally more cheerful outlook in commercial matters will help to keep the colony buoyant. No doubt the Government had many conflicting interests to contend- with when arranging the new tariff, and I don’t think they have been particularly successful. To take a penny off tea is only giving about £17,000 to the retailers, and I will make one to restore the duty to its former figure. The working people will get no benefit whatever from the penny reduction. I think the penny off kerosene wifi stdnd on about the same footing. In the face of recent events in New South Wales, I think it was a mistake to go any further in the direction of Protection. I notice that the bootmakers are not satisfied with 25 per cent., which only goes to show that nothing short of prohibitive duties will satisfy some trades. The Labor members, I should imagine, will object to several of the items of increase in the tariff, as they must Increase the living expenses of the workers. I incline to the opinion that very much more will be realised from the new duties than the Treasurer makes out, and, that being so, I see no necessity for the all-round increase that is proposed. A member, who may be said to have voiced the opinions of the Extreme Left or advanced Radical section of the House, numbering about twenty, says that he, and those who think with him, experience a feeling of keen disappointment because of the non-progressive character of the policy proposals outlined in the Budget. A main source of dissatisfaction is the absence of any proposal to deal directly and effectively with the unemployed difficulty or to institute a system of old age pensions, and they may be expected, irrespective of party allegiance, to criticise the Budget adversely; but, notwithstanding the absence of the proposals which were anticipated, this section of the House do not evince any pronounced hostility to the tariff proposals, and their criticisms of this branch of the subject will presumably be of a “go-as-you-please” character, and altogether unexpected coalitions and results may be the outcome. The member for Masterton (Mr Hogg), who has always been a staunch Ministerialist, takes an uncompromisingly adverse view of tho tariff proposals. Speaking generally on the Statement, Mr Hogg gave expression to his opinions after this manner : The Budget proposals resemble a skilfully-prepared cake. The sugar coating is pronounced, the aroma is appetising, but the quality of the ingredients remains to be demonstrated. To those who expected something startling the Statement is a disappointment. The references to the establishment of dairy schools and the acquisition and settlement of Native lands are reassuring, but not so the brief but significant allusion to the globo assets. Care will have to be taken that the Bank of New Zealand do not continue to shuttle out of their material responsibilities by casting their natural burdens on tho State. The intention to apply the profits derived from the conversion operations to the gradual reduction of the Public Debt and the facilities proposed to enable local bodies to secure cheap money will be hailed with general satisfaction. The amount appropriated for public works and for the Supplementary Estimates appears to be inadequate. The tariff proposals, Mr Hogg says, are not likely to realise the anticipations of members. The long continuous sittings of the Commission have been productive, he remarked, of addled eggs. Manufacturers and importers are likely to meet on a platform of mutual disgust. The reduclious on tea, coffee, and kerosene will produce a serious loss to the revenue, without a commensurate benefit to the consumer; while the increase on wines and spirits and beer is not likely to improve the revenue. The probabilities are that illicit distillation will be largely stimulated, and the revenue from this source will show a marked, if not serious, decline. The differential duty on tea iu bulk and in packages is an absurdity which, as a most ardent Protectionist, he must condemn. The increase of duty on flannelettes and cotton goods that compete with our woollen fabrics he considers justified ; but our bootmakers have good reason to complain of the inadequacy of the protection bestowed on their trade, and to complain also of the duties imposed on leather not made in the colony.