The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1909. THE LOAN BILL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14042, 28 October 1909, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1909. THE LOAN BILL.

Tlio summary supplied by the : Press Association of the discussion on the second rending of tlio million loan Bill, is too meagre to found' any op'inJoA ' upon, regarding the oxplanatidhi.given by Sir Joseph Ward as' Treasurer; for what reason, or reasons, it was necessay to borrow a'million. Mr Jas: Allen ' made a remark, which must be assumed to bo well founded, that is. a 'criticism of both the methods of the Government, and the attitude of tho Houso towards borrowing. He said that the Government "should find out'actual needs before ■'■ borrowing, . instead of borrowing : and • then allocating the whole amount." This is the course which the Legislature usually demands shall • be. followed .by local bodies; seekseoking authority to hbrrow, though an • exception can bo found in the last Tiniaru Harbour Loan Bill. It is, however, the course, which' local bodies arc required by law to follow in fixing the amount of rate to ly 0 levied'.'•'As a matter of fact the local bodies generally find it impossible' to make an estimate of the amount really".likojy' to be. required, . but the Hospital'and Charitable Aid Board Ims to do so. Tn thp case of ' the •• Government' of tho country this ought to be possible, as the Financial and Public Works Statements are remarkable for;the real or affected precision of .the estimates of receipts and expenditure. Sir Joseph said it was unnecessary to give- details of ;tho purposes for which the loan was. required, as he had already explained the object of the Bill. The .explana- ' tion ho referred to •■; was given last Friday night, and it was that because there would be no surplus to transfer to the Public Works'- Fund from' the Consolidated Fund: this : year, . tho last-year riuisfribb replaced by ;b6rro\^d'*'nioiicy.'- ; ■ Anil he gave a list 0f.:.." probable* expenditures *' by tho Public Works; Department for ■.' the current yea r, totalling oyer two millions. The Hbuso seems to have altogether last the poWer.pt the purse in any real ' sense:' '•"'i-'tjfp Cabinet seems to' say, "We will spend so much . this : year, and ■". the House must vote the. total. Members may whittle the details 1 of the : appropriations., if they like; but thnt *is ■/as', far as they can go." : the Cabinet pleases, itself .which .works shall be .undertaken. , ..', Tho.: fa,ct' is that comej.ij .m».cluue momentum carries iriirspite of Cabinet or' House.; 'though'dnb tt'ouJd think that tho' same determination '.which undertook \Xo. save, a*; qri artcr"of a. million a. year,;.,of. the* /e : ost, of/tlio ' civil' service, should nV • able : to ; put;a brake ..on.. the/ wheels. < 'of/ the,. Public Works Department. That! eVonbniy .or attempt at: economy in. the Cjiyil ..Service branch ' was another evidence ..of the inability of tho House to "control expenditure; and of tlie autocratic rulo of the Cabinet. Members knew nothing about the retrenchment. scheme, until it was being put into operation, and then were not consulted about it. Again, it isihe^Miiiister/of /Railways alono who determines that new railways asked for must ho guaranteed to. return 3 per cent.. Mr Millar did not ask tho House for authority; to'impose • that condition. ' A telegram in. yester- , day's issue stated 'that ; ft tender has been accepted for additions to the Wei-. lington Post Office, to cost about £IOO,OOO. This expenditure may be justifiable in itself, but so far as we can make out the House has never approved of it, and this;is a good example .•■:" !' e way largo srims are left to bo >-.; i. nl at tlio discretion of " Ministers — . i few. men .who .are/not r even selected by t.V Peproscntatiyes who/are elected wif.i niiiili tvonhle' and expense to look after the interests-<tt' tho. people, including th'oir financial 'interests.'' lb is part and ,-,parcel of-tho/systcm, an outcome of it* that Ministers:.can. go about the country receiving clepnta- : tions, and requests and petitions for this, that and the other thing,."granting-.' and refusing them .at t.'iJ,ie'i'r.'individual « pleasure, for.', "submitting to the Cabinet" means that iiv most cases. It, seems to ho quite a. of time • for the Opposition to criticise;,"tl|e ;fi'n- ' iuices," and will continue to bo ajwaijto of I iino, iinl i( the" majority supporting I ho .Cabinet jii whatever do, recognise that they • tod' haVc 'as great responsibility in the matter as ,Mr Masse'y and ot^er/members of the Opposition. . ... ........ ■.,,. ).• ,;■■-/