THE COLONY'S FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12268, 12 May 1903, Page 5

THE COLONY'S FINANCE.

VIEWS OF TWO OPPOSITION

MEMBERS.

OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW

PARLIAMENT.

Mr. John Duthie, M.H.R., one of the Wellington members of the House of Representatives, arrived in Auckland yesterday from Sydney by the Zealandia and is staying at the Grand Hotel, in company with Mr. W. 0. Buchanan, the newlyelected member for Wairarapa, who was formerly a member of the Opposition, and who arrived in this city on Saturday. A Herald reporter was granted an interview by Messrs. Duthie and Buchanan last night, the former gentleman acting as spokesman.

. In reply to , a question as to their views concerning the sufficiehev or i+herwise of the funds at the Government's disposal to meet the requirements of the present financial year, Mr. Duthie said: — "With the million and a-quartei loan raised in February, and the accretions of the Government lending departments, and with such additional loans as they can get over the counter either in New Zealand or Australia, there should be no financial difficulty this year. On the million and a-quar-ter loan there will be a loss of £125,000," seeing that the net amount received was under 90 per cent. Still it tots up to £1,125,000." _ . „ There is money to be got in Australia ? " For any further moneys required a certain amount will be got there. Money has been procured from Australia. _ As you know, Sir Joseph Ward lias _ denied that he went across there in connection with raising a loan; still the fact was cabled here that ho had arranged an interview with the members of the Stock Exchange, and to my mind this points to the inference that he was there for that purpose." "Then you anticipate, for the reasons you have given, no immediate financial difficulty 1" . "No. But so far as I am able to judge the danger of the financial position in the future is the accumulation of the shortdated debenture debt which will be falling in before very long, in addition to the requirements of the country for public works and so on. This is going to bo very embarrassing for tho country." "Are you in a position to state what the Opposition propose to do in the coming session 1" "It would be presumptuous on my part to in any way commence to sketch an Opposition programme. At the same time one may, of course, hold individual views. " Then as to the outlook for the new Parliament ?" . . "A great many questions are coming to a head which must engross the attention of Parliament and which will force themselves to be dealt with on their merits, and not under the dictation of the Government. Hitherto the Government has been enabled pretty well to dictate, and what has suited opportunity has been announced as liberalism, but the questions now before the country are too grave for Government to oompe their solution as they will. Several questions arising out of experimental legislation are going to force themselves to more definite solution, and members will, I consider, show more independence in dealing witn them than has been tl>e case before, the questions being riper for consideration, -for instance, the question of preference to unionists will have to be dealt with ill definite fashion. There will also be the questions whether we can go on adding to the debt of the country for advances to settlers, or for lands for settlement, and whether the credit of the country is not too far exhausted. These things must engage tho attention of the com l Parliament." , , "As to the state of prties/ - " Well, whilst doubtless the elections have given oertain nominal returns as to the number of Government or Opposition supporters, members will feel called upon to deal with questions, as I have said, on their merits an I not so much with regard to party. " What is your opinion of the Parliamentary trip to the Islands?" " You people in Auckland are better able ! to judge than other people, being in the Island trade, but I can see no benefit in the trip, unless to disclose to members the huge mistake that has been made in undertaking the responsibility of governing these islands. It may result in benefit, if it shows them that we can do practically nothing for the Islands. I visited them a few years ago, ana found that the London Missionary Society had done, and were doing, a great service as regards the moral advancement of the people. There are no means of inducing the people in ' that climate to labour, ana by placing upon them a huge system of government, for which they have no need, wo are also putting on their shoulders a burden of taxation which must press heavily upon people living the lives of these natives. _ At all these islands there is a costly machinery for the administration of justice and the collection of revenue— is of no benefit whatever to tho natives. To my mind the Parliamentary trip is simply one of pleasure, undertaken at the cost of the country, and an altogether unjustifiable expenditure. I see they have taken away a ' hurdy-gurdy,' a comic singer, and the health officer of the colony! No Government ever lent themselves to such expenditure before." " Reverting to the question of finance, and in connection with railways, what do you consider to be the merits of the question of expenditure on open lines?" " I think that if these lines had been maintained as a trading company would have been, or as they ought to have been, they would not have paid 1 per cent, in place of approximately 3 per cent, as shown- It would have taken all the boasted_ surplus which Mr. Seddon quotes at something over £3,000,000 to maintain them as they ought to have been maintained. Instead of that enormous sums have been borrowed and used to do what ought mainly to have been done as a charge against worlcing^xpenses."