The Financial Debate.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7294, 19 August 1898, Page 4

The Financial Debate.

(B7 TELEQBAIH'. | (fboh oub owk COBBESPONDENT.) I Wellington, August 18. The Financial debate wasresumedthis afternoon by Me Flatman, member, for Geraldine, who had much pleasure in con-, gratulating ,the Premier upon the very flourishing ' condition of the colony's finance as shown in the Statement. As additional proof of this he was glad to notice that the Advances £o Settlers Offioe lad now squared Accounts with the Consolidated Fund- Captain Russell's amendment ha described as a miserable move which the poor working man, whom the V Leader of the Opposition wished at this late hour to befriend, wonld easily see • through. Hie workers knew, and would continue to believe, that their .true friends occupied the Government Benches. He differed from those speakers who had praised the administration of the Railway Commissioners. The railways had never been efficiently man aged by the Commissioners, as had been the case under the control of Mr Cadman. Under the general adminstration cf the present Government the colony had gone ahead by leaps and bounds. Mr Flatman also eulogised the land policy of the Government, ' adding that he had visited the Pomahaka estate, which he considered would make a very good settlement. Mr Hunter, who then took up the running, . incidentally mentioned that: it would be time enough for the Opposition to propose a policy when they got on to the Treasury Benches. He "felt justified In prophesying that this would eventuate at the next general election. The three principles of good government, according to the member for Waipara, were to keep down expenditure, pay- your way, and set aside a certain amount every year for the proverbial rainy day. They found, however, that every one of these principles had been violated by the present Government. He criticised adversely the administration of the railways under Mr Cadman, and read out a list of persons who had been injured since the railways had been' taken over from the Commissioners. Touching the Financial Statement he did not think the Premier had proved the existence of a gsnnine surplus, and it could not be rightly argued that the country was now in a prosperous condition, because in previous years there had been deficits or a surplus. Mr Meredith took up the debate on the Government side in a speech of an hour's duration. He dealt with many points raised in the Budget and in the speeches of its critics. In reply to a charge that the tariff of 1895 had added to the burdens of the people, he pointed nut that the customs revenue had increased largely in 1894 and that the increasing tendency had since been maintained, showing that the enhanced purchasing power of the people was the principal cause of the arowth of customs revenue. Speaking on the land question from 35 years experience of the /colony, he declared that there was i'' r never a larger Remand for pastoral and agricultural land than there was at the present time, and the general prosperity of the country was proved by the rising tendency in the value of all kinds of property." When the member for Ashley had emptied his waliet of praise Mr Buchanan rose to maintain the opposite view of the case, and his rather depressing eloquence kept the House engaged until the dinner adjournment. He resumed bis speech at 7.30, and having criticised the land for settlements policy sat down amidst the plaudits of his colleagues. Mr Duncan, who followed, vigorously criticised Mr Buchanan's speech and as thoroughly demonstrated that the country was in such a condition as should satisfy even the most pessimistic. The Opposition had stood in their own light. They made a practice of moving for returns in such a form as to make it impossible for * the Government to grant th 6 information sought, and then announced to the country that the Government wilfully withheld such information. Passing on, the member for Oarnaru said that there was one great necessity for a Local Government Bill, namely, that under that - measure the construction of roads and bridges would be taken out of the hands of Parliament, no matter what Government waa in power. There was always some trouble in respect to the construction of these necessary works. Touching on the bank question, he hoped that when the Banking Bill passed no further legislation would be required in connection with the Bank of New Zealand for years to come. A remark that the Bank of New Zealand ran the colony in the old days but that the colony intended to run the Bank now, drew forth appreciative applause. In Mr Duncan's opinion the Advances to Settlers Act bad been one of the best measures ever passed, and was largely responsible for the present cheapness of money. He warmly commended the land for settlement policy of the Government and thought that settlement would be discouraged rather than encouraged by the creation of freeholds. In respect to the railways, he asserted that the Commissioners had never given satisfaction to anyone requiring information during their regime. Under the present management the had Increased to such .3 large extent that the rolling stock was quite inadequate to keep pace with the .pressure. Coming to one of the foremost questions. of the day, he hoped they would be successful in passing an Old Age Pension Bill this session. There was urgent need for such legislation. He had a horror of old men's homes and other such institutions, and was anxious to save old people from-such a fate. The unthrifty had earned their pensions by contributing to the advance of the colony by means of their work and to the revenue by their extravagance. Mr Duncan proceeded to criticise.the defeated Opposition amendment in telling terms, when Mr Scobie Mackenzie interjected "Do you want another amendment," to which the: member for Oaxnaru promptly rejoined "Yes, fetch them along and we shall know how to treat them all right," and the doughty Scobie held his peace. After Mr Duncan bad concluded a practical and [forceful speech, Mr Scobie Mackenzie caught the Speaker's eye, and In his lightsome manner proceeded to pull the Statement to pieces.; He referred-to the Statement as an audacious attempt to falsify'the public accounts, and devoid of conviction. He declared that It was utterly false, : and in pathetic tones alleged,that the.Premier had endeavored to sully the fair fame of the late Sir Harry Atkinson. Backed by a formidr able array of statistics he strove to show that the Minister for Lands could not take v credit for the increase of settlers on the land, and yras sure that there had been more forfeitures dnrfoe the tenure of office of the present Government than nnder any previous _ Government. The surplus of the Premier was a legitimate one, but for the sake of the people of the colony, be hoped it=wonld not be a whited sepulchre to hide political corruption. Because of the surplus unsuitable appointments to the Legislative.Coancii and to the Commission of the Peace .were - tolerated. The people were blinded , by the glamour of the .earplus and imaginedthat all was right. He was sorry that he was.unable to move a amendment, but if he could have done "so he would, have moved to the effect that no surplus, real or fictitious, should be used as aset-off to divert the attention of the people from, the political morality of any. Government; . and he cheerfully prophesied that his suggested amendment wonld sbortlybe taken ' np and decided by the country. The member for .Dauediri- concluded - by promising at a" future date to divulge the secret of the Premier's refusal to giye evi- — - denee before the Police .Commission.' 7' • ' JJfr'Hogff followed, on the Government

side, and deprecated the previoosspeaker's action in referring-' to -the, Legislative Coancii appointments, as he had attacked men both living' and dead without discrimination. The appointments of recent years would compare very favorably with those madeby the-Oontinuous Ministry. Speaking personally of Mc Twomey,whom he considered ,Mr .Mackenzie had referred to unfairly, Mr ,Hogg said that he had known that gentleman for a number of years and . knew him to be a conscientious man and one who; always wrote according to bisconvictions. He defended Mr John* M'Kenzie's Lands for - Settlement policy, showing -that .the Minister, had now 'only a limited amount of Crown land to deal with, and that was of the roughest description. Recent forfeitures were due to the, difficulties settlers onbushand mountainous lands had to contend with; and surrenders were due largely to a desire for a revaluation of holdings. The Budget, he considered, was clear, concise, and. convincing., The Government had nob only carried forward last year's balance but had added to it, notwithstanding that a large sum had been transferred to public works. Mr J. W. Thomson continued the debate which was adjourned on the motion of MrE. G. Allen at 12.20 a.m..