Established 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Monday, July 7, 1902. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 156, 7 July 1902, Page 2

Established 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Monday, July 7, 1902. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Tins is excellent news about the early delivery of the Financial Statement. Hitherto it has been the rule for the Statement to be held over until some five or six weeks or even more of the session has elapsed, thus preventing members from having that full and early knowledge of the state of the country's financial position and of the financial proposals of the Government that they ought to have. Sir Joseph Ward, who appears determined to gain a reputation for conducting the business of the country on business lines, is this year taking a most agreeable new departure, the Statement being announced for delivery to morrow, Tuesday night. We congratulate the honourable gentleman upon his wise decision, and also upon the industry and capacity with which he must have dealt with the various departmental returns, for otherwise he could not have, as Colonial Treasurer, been ready to take the House and country into his confidence for some weeks to come. We have always contended that the business of Parliament will not suffer very much by the absence of the Premier so long as the present ActingPremier is in charge, and events are establishing the truth of our contention. Sir Joseph is much less combative and more tactful than Mr Seddon, and manages to keep the House in good temper, whereas the Premier sometimes rubs members the wrong way on some small and comparatively unimportant point, thus raising a storm of opposition, which too often breeds active and prolonged obstruction. Whether, on the other hand, Sir Joseph possesses that dominant personality, that doggedness, and actual force of character which have enabled his chief to wear down obstruction and force a measure through the House by sheer strength of will and untiring patience, remains to be seen. The test will come some day, no doubt. In the meantime Sir Joseph is doing remarkably well in his capacity of ActingPremier, and his early preparation and delivery of the Financial Statement is sure to be warmly approved by members of all shades of political opinion.