The Hastings Standard Published Daily. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1896. THE LOAN BILL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 103, 25 August 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1896. THE LOAN BILL.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

There is no serious opposition to the Loan Bill now before the House. The members generally recognise that certain public works are urgently needed, and that these works cannot be undertaken 'without the aid of borrowed money. The senior member for Wellington City (Sir Robert Stout), who, figuratively speaking, sees nothing but red rags in the Bills introduced by Mr Seddon, and, like the bovine, which cuts some undignified capers on seeing the red rags, had very little to say in opposition to the Loan Bill; and when so astute a lawyer cannot find fault we may assume that there are no faults to be found. Sir Robert, under the circumstances, took up the correct attitude of advising certain improvements, and his remarks are worthy of serious attention. There is no doubt that in the past vast sums of public money have been squandered in the purchase of political support. Political railways, political bridges, political roads, political buildings, such as Courthouses and post-offices, are too well known, and it is these that have been the curse of our public works policy. There will be a scramble for the million proposed to be now borrowed, and unless the Government show a stiff back the money will be spent in unnecessary and unprofitable work. Such has been tbe history of

the past, and although we are confident the Government will spend the money without favor or partiality, still we cannot overlook the fact that a general election is pending, and the temptation to steer outside the true course will be very great. Sir Eobert Stout says that a change in the system is needed. At present the Minister of the day decides upon the work, and he is apt to be misled into an expenditure that is unwarranted ; or he may be susceptible to backstairs influence, or political pressure, and thus sanction the spending of money in useless or unnecessary works. The change from this system suggested by Sir Eobert Stout is that a grand committee of competent members of the House should be selected to allocate the money. What he suggests is an imitation of the system in vogue in New South Wales. The main object is to eject the political influence from the allocation of the Public Works Fund. A grand committee of the House would not be free from the suspicion of political motives, for in all Parliamentary Committees the Government of the day is entitled to have a preponderance of its own party, and on such a committee as suggested by Sir Robert Stout, the majority of the members would unquestionably belong to the party in the ascendant for the time being. This fact alone would discount the work of such a committee, however impartially it may do its work. This system of dealing with the public works by a permanent committee has been the practice in New South Wales for some years, and while it is admitted to be superior to the system obtaining in New Zealand, it is still defective in many ways. The political element, in a diluted form may be still seen, and the only way to get rid of

this element is to appoint a committee of, say five members, competent to deal with such matters and wholly unconnected with politics. The Representation Commission furnishes an example of what such a committee should be. There never has been the most remote suggestion that the Representation Commissioners act otherwise than impartially and in the public interest. A permanent Public Works Committee of men disassociated with politics would, we are sure, prove a boon to the colony. Such a committee would prepare each year a schedule of public works, in the order of their urgency, that are required, and Parliament could then vote the entire sum asked or a portion of such sum, which would be handed over to the committee for expenditure. Such a committee would be an excellent buffer between the Minister and the importunate cadgers for grants in aid. By the adoption of such a system as is here indicated, we are certain that the colony will reap many advantages. "We hope Sir Robert will enlarge his scheme and bring it under the notice of the public during the election, and if it should so happen that the results of the election should turn in his favor—which we doubt—it is to be hoped that as soon as he clutches the reins of government he will take prompt steps to give effect to 'his proposals.