NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

A moke dreary, and uninteresting .opening of a Financial debate than that of last evening has seldom been inflicted on a New Zealand Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition, who opened the debate, and the Minister of -Finance, who followed, were both in poor form, Sir James Allen apparently suffering, under the handicap of a seve're cold. At the outset of his speech, when he kept closely to his notes, it was at least possible to follow Sir Joseph Ward's contentions, but towards the close, he became so involved that it required the greatest mental activity to arrive at any understanding of_ what he was. really aiming.at. His chief points were that the of accumulated surplus should be used as a sinking fund; that too much money whs being provided this year for soldier settlement; that land purchases were proceeding too rapidly; that t\ie State could swell its revenues by nationalisation of coal mines, a State Bank, etc., to the relief of the taxpayer, and that we should borrow for public woiks and hydro-electric power undertakings in London. It was an electioneering speecli in its way, but did not stir even his own' party following, for he resumed his scat without single hand-clap—a very .unusual thing at the opening of a Financial debate.

• 1 The Minister of Finance, though he also started well enough, also, ended' tamely..' He did not attempt to follow in any great detail "Silt Joseph Ward's somewhat feeble criticism of the finances of _the Budget, and it was perhaps significant of the Government's estimate of the effort of the Leader of the Opposi-1 tion that the Minister was content 1 to spend only half ar; hour in replying to Sir Joseph Ward's hour and a half attack. The most effective part of Sir James Allen's speech was his exposure of the fallacy that by converting the _ £15,000,000 of accumulated surplus into a sinking fund the country, and more especially the-taxpayer, would be better off than if the money , were spent in repatriation work as proposed by tho Government. Simplified, Sir Joseph Ward's contention amounts to this: If a man.who owes £10,000 has saved £1000, and needs to spend £1000 in the development of his business, lie should not use the £1000 bo had saved. Instead, he should set it aside as a sinking fund to pay off the £10,000 he already owes, and borrow another £1000 for his development work. The result is,' of course, obvious. Why should the man borrow tho extra £1000 when he has the money himself? .This question is particularly pertinent just now, when it is borne in mind that those who would have to lend the money are the New Zealand public, who have already been drawn on so heavily for war loans. The. Government's proposal not only means turning the accumulated surplus to the best possible use, but it avoids the necessity of another big loan for repatriation purposes.

Returned soldiers and fihose interested in soldier settlement will be astonished to note that Sir Joseph Ward advocated lasi evening a cutling down this year by one-half of the Government's proposed allocation of £14,000,000 for land purchase and soldier settlement. _It seems that contrary to the opinion generally held the Leader of the Opposition holds the view that the soldiers arc being hurried on to the land too fast, and instead of spending the amount proposed in one year he would spread it over two. Bow Sir Joseph Ward .reconciles this with his own electioneering manifesto ho will perhaps explain later on.

Though it led to no very definite, result, the discussion on roading in Parliament yesterday _ was noteworthy. for the unanimity with which members on both sdes of the House urged tho Government to formulate a comprehensive policy in regard to the improvement and upkeep of main road:;. There was general agreement that the Government ought to take over control of these roads and develop such a working organisation as would make it possible to maintain them at a. high standard of .efficiency. Not all the members who snoke went as far as Mr. Sbddon, who advocated the establishment of a Bonds Board which could have the assistance of Government engineers, and could work generally under OoySrnincnt, supervision, but there was broad agreement rcgardin.fr the, necessity of a change under which the. Government would largely assume the responsibilitos of main ro;id maintenance to which many local bodies now find themselves unequal. Another indication was thus afforded that tho time is opportune for the Government to deal in 'an enterprising way with the problem, at lenst to the extent of outlining such a policy as is plainly called for. A good

deal will no be hoard on the subjeet at, and in cunnoetion with, the Counties' Conference, which is to assemble here to-clay.

Tim destruction by rats of a considerable proportion uf the mails just brought to this country by the Athonie pointedly directs attention to a state of affairs that calls for immediate remedy. So long as mails arc brought out from Great Britain by cargo steamers it. may be an expensive matter to fully safeguard them against such attacks, but . the expense obviously must be faced, and red-tape considerations ought not to be allowed to stand in the wav of prompt and effectual action, it is difficult to say how far the loss, trouble, and inconvenicncc occasioned by the partial destruction of the Athcnic's mails may extend, and full precautions ought' to be taken, by the provision of rat-proof packages or in some other way; against anv repetition of the incident, Incidentally the question is raised whether it would_ not be possible to take more effective measures than at ■ present towards exterminating tho evidently numerous colonies of rats which infest cargo and other steamers. The question all.the better deserves consideration in view of the part rats are known to play as earners of disease. Indeed; the incident on the Athonie oiisrht. to bo almost as interesting to the Health authorities as to the Postal Department.