THE BUDGET AND THE OPPOSITION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2222, 7 August 1914, Page 4

THE BUDGET AND THE OPPOSITION

It is regrettable that the Opposi- j tion should have seized a time like ( the present for a melodramatic dis- \ play such as. that which occurred, in j the House of Eepresentatives last ( The present is-nbt a time j for party bickering oi' the seeking of , advantages on party lines, and we "j had. hoped from Sir Joseph Ward's • earlier attitude in the existing crisis \ to.witness him assisting to keep the." ; , wheels of Parliament running- ■ smoothly, and,. Ministers relieved,as ~ much as possible of unnecessary em- • barrassments likely to "detach their attention- from the bigger issues 'now demanding> their close, and -earnest - ; study. ■'. It is'- eminently desirable that the work of the country should proceed as far as possible along the lines ordinarily pursued.. The fact! that the Empire.is at:.war does not. mean that, everyone should desist from their ordinary avocations,'and sit idle with their hands in their laps, .or spend their time feasting oh. 'idle rumours. At tifries of (great . public excitement leaders of- public opinion should remain calm, and cool, and pursue the even tenor of their way, in order to allay public anxiety. So far as New/ Zealand is concerned, there is no reason whatever why Parliament should # not press steadilyon with such business as calls for its: attention; and the presentation of the Budget is surely one of the matter's which should not be delayed unnecessarily. The public are entitled! to-know the country's ■ position and the intentions of the Government even- when ; the Empire is at war; perhaps'_'•''more so . then that- in-normal times. -Sir Joseph Ward and his followers, however, think otherwise, and.presumably hope to cohvirice'the public that their theatrical protest has in some; way served the interests of the country better than would have been the case had they remained in. the House in attendance oh their duties. ' It is regrettable that they should have adopted what: must seein ■- to, most people at such a time as the present a very narrow, and petty a.ttitude, but it is the duty of the Government to proceed with the business of the country, whatever the Opposition may feel inclined to do. Turning to the Budget itself, it gives a clear and straightforward statement of 'the financial position,-, and shows .that a very sound and satisfactory' finance has. been established. 'In spite'of the exceptional conditions arising out of the strike and the smallpox epidemic there, was a handsome surplus in the Consolidated Fund,.'and (.the other accounts were in • an exceptionally strong position., The Public Works Fund, whicji; depends' mainly on bor-: rowed money, will require, strengthening, and amongst the proposals for the year is a, £2,000,000 loan for public works purposes. This now will be difficult to raise at anything like . a reasonable ' figure, and, in consequence, tho Government will require to' exercise economy 'and oaution. An additional loan of £1',d00,000, to make special provision for road'making, is also: proposed, this ex-, penditure to be spread over three years. It is not necessary at the moment to follow the Minister through the various policy measures outlined in. the Budget, except.' to say that they include improvements and greater "liberality in tho matter • of pensions; non-political distribu- • tion-of grants to local bodies for public works purposes; Oustoms and education reform, etc. • Somo most interesting tables are given showing the effect of the graduated land tax in bringing pressure to bear on tho holders of large estates, and there is also very strong evidence afforded of ' the increased activity displayed since ■ tho Reform Government came into i' office in the.'inattcr of the subdivision ' of large estates and the promotion • of closer settlement. These matters. • however, may well • staud ' over for i futuro consideration. Tho chief ! points of interest to the public are ' that the Government has been able i to show that- the country is in a i strong position financially, and that > it is prepared, in the faco of great difficulties, to go calmly oh with its ■ task of administering tho affairs of I the Dominion, thus setting, an cxI ample'which might well be followed • with advnntage by p.ll classes of the s community.. \