Mr Seddon's Tenth Budget.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8205, 29 July 1905, Page 6

Mr Seddon's Tenth Budget.

Press Gallery, Tuesday Night

Crowded galleries assembled as usual to hear the Budget read. Budget-evening is usually one of the driest and dreariest of the session, and the curiosity of the public, under the circumstances, is unexplainable. The ladies' gallery was particularly overcrowded, though probably not one of its occupants had the remotest idea about the details and intricacies of Colonial finance. Mr Seddon's Budget this year was, fortunately, not so much padded as usual, and so the ordeal was the sooner over. His time-worn references to providing roads for the backblocks settler, who is, notwithstanding all these promises, still struggling axle-deep in mud, were received with incredulous laughter, as was also his comparison of his financial critics, whom he calls the pessimists, to Californian thistles. His reference to a reduction of taxation caused a smile, and one hon. member somewhat spoilt the effect by interjecting, " On tobacco." " When the end of the Budget had been reached, Mr Massey asked for the production of necessary reports and returns so that members might give proper consideration to the Treasurer's statement. He specially mentioned the reports of the Railway Department and the Lands Department, Mr Seddon mentioned some returns he intended to give the House, but he evaded the question "as regards the Railways and Lands reports. Mr Massey, during some further brief debate, said there was" electioneering in every line of the Budget. He asked that members be given till Tuesday before taking debate on it.

Mr Seddon suggested Friday. Mr Massey said that would only give members two clear days, which was not enough. He drew Mr Seddon's attention to the fact that he had forgotten to answer his question about the Lands' and Railways' statements. Mr Seddon said Sir Joseph Ward had informed him that the Railways statement was in an advanced stage. f[ may mention that it was in print ten days ago, Sir Joseph Ward having produced a final " revise " of it on the occasion of a visit from a Napier deputation, j Mr Massey pointed out that our iinance depended, to a great extent, upon the revenue from the Railway Department, and to a lesser extent upon the revenue of the Lands Department, therefore it was necessary that they should have these two reports before discussing the Budget, Mr Herdman asked if Mr Seddon was going to comply with the law by laying tne balance-sheet of the State coal mines on the table of the House.

Mr Seddon gave an evasive reply. Some papers were then presented, and the House adjourned