A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2559, 6 September 1915, Page 4

A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Budget debate so far as it has gone has been the marked improvement in the tone and qualityof the speeches due to the elimination of party considerations. Almost without exception members .have endeavoured to disouss the important issues raised by the Budget proposals on their merits, and from the point of view of national interests as distinct from party interests. Criticism has been free, but generally speaking it has been on broad lines, and in a helpful spirit. Thus we find members who in normal times aro constantly carping at one another, and squandering time and energy in petty disputations seeking to place one another at a disadvantage in the eyes of the electors, now working together in harmony, disagreeing at times, it is-true,'as to the wisdom 'of given proposals, but in the- main . treating the various matters which come before them on their merits alone. Mil. Hine, in his speech on Friday commenting on the. changed conditions said it almost reconciled liini to the Elective Executive system, and ho expressed the hope that the present state of things would long continue. Certainly it is a change for the better.. It is also very gratifying to n'ote the outspokenness of members of all parties on the question of public expenditure. Members, indeed, appear to bo more alive to the need for proper economies than do Ministers. If we'are to'judge by the Budget pronouncements, the National Ministry still requires a strong lead on this question. Curiously enough, in the British Parliament it fell to the M of the private members to Rive the National Ministry there a lead in the direction of ourtailing _ unnecessary expenditure, certain items being singled out for adverse action. The' Government- wisely took the hint. Probably 'our own Government will be equally wis© if rnembers act with discretion. .