The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1894. THE BUDGET DEBATE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 807, 10 August 1894, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald . with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1894. THE BUDGET DEBATE.

The debate on the Financial Statement, -which began last week, is remarkable in many ways, but it derives its chief notoriety from the fact that members with few exceptions labored under the impression that the scene was a washhouse, and like good men they adapted themselves to their surroundings and vigorously washed out all the dirty linen of politics. Sir Robert Stout was tho chief laundryman at the earlier stage of the dcbato. The speech of tho senior member for Wellington is a stirring piece of cant; blinding prejudice, disappointment, and personal animosity towards the Premier colored a speech that would otherwise pass as a brilliant criticism of the policy of the Government. Sir Robert was singularly unfortunate in many of his statements. His allusions to the Railway Servants’ Society and the alleged compact between Ministers and the Society as to the dismissal of Railway Commissioners, was to say the least of it, petty and malicious. 1 Ie had to chew the cud of repentance the following day, and we do not know which to admire most —his suhlimoaudcity or the grandeur of his repentance.

There is much in common between Sir Robert Stout and a certain biblical gentleman who at a memorable prayer meeting started with “ God, J thank thee 1 am not as other men are.” The time for hoodwinking the country by posing has passed, and Sir Robert will not secure a following by posing as the “ puri Democrat.” Ideal states and pure democrats are desirable things, but just now the country is troubled about mom y, cheap money, borrowed money, and if the debate c mid be coniined to these points the result will be beneficial. We arc, however, very much grieved for Sir Robert Stout and the unhappy position ho now occupies. Cruelly disappointed in his hopes of founding a third party lie has taken to abusing tho Government and ils followers. He olaitns to be a trm i liberal, and yet cannot secure a following. Mr Seddon is credit d a sham Liberal and receives very substantial support from a body of staunch followers. Sir Robert Stout is like a hiolytic parasite on the Liberal party, and the sooner he is shaken olf the better.