MR CARROLL’S CRITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 231, 8 October 1901, Page 2

MR CARROLL’S CRITICS.

CoMMEXTiNw on the remarks by the lion i James Carroll upon the Financial Debate I Lhe Christchurch Press says: Mr Carroll's contribution to the Finan- | eial Debate did not contain a solitary figure nor one reference to finance, nor does anyone who knows him suppose that lie has so much as opened a departmental report during the last three Parliaments. If he had done so, if ho had even contented himself with a comparison between the text of the Financial Statement and some of its tables, he could hardly have experienced much astonishment at the discrepancies to be found in the speeches of private members. As a matter of fact, it is a difficult matter for a member to quote figures from any one public document or report which may not be instantly contradicted from half-a-dozen others. If he quotes the text oi tiie Financial Statement, he may be confronted with its tables. Should Statement and tables be in accord, they are both contradicted by a Departmental Report, while nothing but additional mystification can be derived from tlustatistics and " Tear Book. ’ By far the safest plan, therefore, is to follow tin example of Mr Carroll in sleepily taking it for granted that everything is ail right, and loftily criticising those of an enquiring mind in such language as we have quoted. But surely tne public have a right to demand that our administratorshall, in theatrical parlance, "join thc-it fiats,” and, at least, tell the same story. Tne writer then goes on to quote u few examples in connection with the three principal departments of State to show the difficulties confronting anyone who wishes to quote figures with accuracy.