Political Notes and Comments.

Southland Times, Issue 13508, 16 July 1896, Page 2

Political Notes and Comments.

[By Telegraph.] (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, July 16. Asked for his opinion of the Statement Sir R. Stout said it contains nothing new, as anyone with a knowledge of the public accounts could have constructed it all from the returns published. He considers that the financial position is stated fairly and clearly; in fact, with regard to an item of L 75.000 Treasury bills, the Treasurer has stated a case against himself. The only new thing in the Statement is the proposal to raise a million and Sir Robert takes it that it is proposed to spend it in one year, but as there would be loans under the Lands for Settlement Act and the Loans to Local Bodies Act it is clear that authority for a million and a quarter is asked. This policy, he says, is a complete departure from the Ballance policy. Mr J. G. Ward arrived to-day and took his seat. No Financial Statement delivered in the House, within recent times at any rate, has been received as was Mr Seddon’s last night. His reading was of a character which kept the House in roars of laughter, and the whole proceedings savoured more of a burlesque than of what is supposed to bs a sober statement of facts. The Budget reads better than it sounded, and apart from its politics has brought the Treasurer credit for putting the figures more plainly than any of his predecessors have done. Mr Duthie, one of the best financial men in the House, interviewed on the Budget, says that the language and manner of delivery were those of a stump speech, provoking derision all round instead of re-pset. The speech is loaded with tedious recapitulations of figures, still the financial position is perhaps more lucidly pub forward than formerly. Failure is excused and explained over the advances to settlers scheme or the Consols Act, and also over the speculations in timber, while, oddly enough, the Treasurer still reproaches the people for lack of mercantile enterprise for such ventures. No fresh policy is announced except more borrowing, and here the half a million for roads and native lands is only continuing the practice of recent years. The additional half million for railways, public works, aud thermal springs are new but questionable. Money must, I fear, be found for public works. It is more a question for what term this will stffice, but the other items are in excess of the amounts justifiable for the present. The annual cost named on account of old age pensions puts that proposal outsidepractical politics. Without last quarter's returns one cannot speak confidently, but I suspect that the estimate of Customs revenue is much below the probable results for the year. Mr Carnell’s Totalisator Abolition Bill caused some excitement and the members of both parties and no party at all voted with the member for Napier with the result that the second reading was carried. Those who spoke almost all dealt with the matter from the point of view of the election and the debate could not be considered a serious one.

A petition was presented to-day by David Hutchison, of Balfour, complaining that the Public Trustee had sold his farm, freehold section 598, Hokonui, below its market value and paid away a part of the proceeds to parties not entitled to it. The petitioner has failed to get information as to the sale of the property or account sales from the auctioneers and prays for a proper account and information.

The member for Wallace presented a petition from settlers in W’allace County and tourists, respecting the bridging of the Mararoa on the road to Manap juri and Te Anau, a work which the county cannot afford but which the general Government for the sake of tourists might) undertake.