"ROASTING" THE BUDGET.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 4

"ROASTING" THE BUDGET.

During tho early stages of the Financial Debate the Pimiu Minister lias had a fairly comfortable time. A good many points hari been scored against the Budget, but up to yesterday, with the exception of Uio sjpeccb.es of Mb. Mabsey aud

Mi!. G. M. Thomson, the criticism had not been particularly searching. Mr. Thomsons speech was really a very admirable one, far above the standard usually nowadays in Parliament, and reminiscent of the days of careful thought and earnest statesmanship. Much of it obviously was "over the heads" of many members, and while a most valuable contribution to the debate it was only likely to appeal to the more thoughtful. But yesterday a change came o'er the scene, and it was most amusing to note the change in the Prime Minister's attitude. Bin. James Allen was responsible. He delivered a slashing criticism of the financial side of the Budget—one of the finest efforts at financial criticism that has been heard in the House for many a long day. The Prime Minister was most uncomfortable throughout — interjecting, scoffing, moving restlessly about in his scat — while the member for Bruce went relentlessly on, pointing out schoolboy errors in arithmetic committed by "the wizard of finance"; juggling with Treasury Bills! and even an enormous error by which Sik Joseph Ward had overstated the amount of the net Public Debt by something approaching two million pounds. "This wa-s how the Prime Minister damaged the credit of the Dominion," cuttingly remarked Mb. Allen, applying to Sir Joseph Ward a form of criticism Sir Joseph Ward is very fond of applying to his opponents. It was a very damaging speech, for Mr. Allen with a copy of the Budget in his hand, gave chapter and verse for every point made. Later in the evening Mr. Herdman-brought further discomfort to the head of the Government. He also was in good fighting form, and Sir Joseph Ward could not contain himself under the lash of criticism. He constantly interjected and interrupted, and on at least three occasions raised points of order in an endeavour to stem the tide. On one of these occasions he objected to the use of the term "slippery finance" as applied to his methods but Mn. Speakbr i overruled him. Mr. Fisher also made one of his lively speeches, "roasting" some of the Ministerial aspirants to Cabinet rank. New life has been put into ■the debate by yesterday's speeches, and the end may not come until well on into next week.