THE BUDGET.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2235, 6 July 1870, Page 2

THE BUDGET.

{Continued.) Our Wellington correspondent writes that the Treasurer’s financial statement was not received with ridicule, as has been assorted by the Daily Tinm correspondent. * We give the authorised report of the debate which followed the Colonial Treasurer's speech :

Mr SrAt'KOiiD said it would be most inconvenient for the Committee to attempt to discuss at once so very 'large a scheme as .that which had been propounded by the 'Colonial Treasurer to-uight; a scheme whieh not only comprised the usual normal state;mont of revenue and expenditure during the jpast year and propositions for the ensuing year, bat was one which, the honorable gentleman was so ambitious as to extend over a ■period of some tea years in advance ; a scheme also which travelled largely outside of those subjects and grooves to which hitherto the attention of the Legislature had been directed in the annual financial statement, Therefore, speaking for himself, lie did not on that occasion propose to comment at all cither in one direction or the other upon that scheme, but he thought the Committee was in honor bound to carry the resolution to-nii(ht which the Colonial Treasurer had submitted to it. There was a most distinct intimation made, it ho intrepretid rightly the honorable gentleman’s wards to the Committee, that he would not on that occasion divulge his proposed alterations in the tariff if he were met hy any expressions of disapprobation. As far as ho (Mr Stafford) was able to see, no such expression of disapprobation fell from any honorable member of the House, He understood distinctly, however, that in assenting to the resolution being put to-night, he did so upon what he understood to be at the time a definite condition, accompanying the intimation of the Colonial Treasurer, that it should be open to the Committee to discuss in future every item of the resolutions, and to reject or affirm them, as it might seem Jit. WJmt was

now by the Govemmennt was merely a direction to the officers of customs for a few hours, or it might be a few days, to collect duties upon a proposed new scale, which duties would be returned if they did not uect with the approbation of the House. He was free to confess that he very much preferred the mode of proceeding now proposed, to that which had obtained on one or cwo previous occasions, when alterations were made in the tariff. To his mind it appeared to give every member of the Committee the most ample opportunity of debating and discussing each proposal to alter the customs Inties ; while at the same time it guarded Hie revenue from any loss, and those connected with trade were precluded from making time bargains which might be disadvantageous to individuals, and operate igainst the interests of some of the parties concerned. He thought that, in point of honor and good faith, the hon. gentleman would have a right to complain that he was led into a trap if the Committee did not so far go with him as to confirm the resolution that night, on the distinct understanding that the whole and every part oi it was open to future discussion, and to subsequent rejection or adoption He believed it was that modr, of proceeding which would best enable the Legislature calmly to consider the propo cd alterations in the taxation of the country. In saying so much, he wished to guard himself from appearing to coincide in all the propositions made by the boa. memher. He held himself free to oppose, as hp should oppose, some portions of those propo. sitions. He was now referring to the formal resolution before the Committee, and he was abstaining from commenting in any manner whatever on the scheme of colonization and public works to which the hon. gentleman had invited their attention. Mr Travers concurred in the remarks cf the honorable member for Timaru, on the distinct understanding that the whole question should be submitted to the consideration of the House.

Mr Vogel said that he was strictly follow iug a precedent. The statement in England was invariably made in Committee of WajH and Means, in order to bring the resolution forward, and the resolution now before tho Committee was almost a for simile of some which had been proposed at home. The mere passing of the resolution would not have tho effect which the honorable member supposed* He was prepared to assure the honorable member that he would have ample opp >rtuuity to discuss the statement either in the House or in Committee, as the Government would not shrink from a discussion of the whole statement from end to end. Mr Gillies would like to know if the Treasurer would state whether he concurred in the statement of the honorable member for Timaru, that the motion was to be con- ' sidered as merely a formal one, which might be discussed and negatived at a future period. If that were the case, he did not understand it to be so from the manner in which the honorable member put it, and he should like to have a distinct understanding upon the point. Mr Vogel said that the honorable mem. her could not have been in his place in the House if he failed to hear what he had stated, as he (Mr Vogel) turned round in making the statement and asked honorable members whether they meant to raise a discussion, and if so he would refuse to read the alterations to the Committee. He also stated again and again that the resolutions were meant simply as an" authority to the Collector of Customs to raise certain revenue in anticipation of the decision of the House, He might tell the honorable member that on Saturday instructions went up to the Collector of Customs in Auckland to take bonds under the increased duties. He had told the hon. member that it was a formal resolution. It was a pity that the honorable member should have shown such asperity while failing td understand the matter. It was pretty well understood that the resolution was necessary to prevent .speculation, Mr entirely concurred ip the view that it was too late now tp refuse to pass the resolution, . An opportunity was offered by, the Colonial Treasurer, and if the Committee had intended to oppose, the, resolution, they ought there and then to have done so, before the honorable gentleman disclosed to the public that information which, if the resolution -were not-agreed-to^would. produce a great deal of speculation and commercial embarrassment. He hoped the hj morable member would withdraw his opposition. It was clear that the iCommittee would not have withdrawn from it the op* portumtv lully dialing * t{ie resolution if it saw 1 lit. Me did not - approve pf that ipethod bf bringing such a resolution, as compared' with tlmt which bad hitherto been adopted,' The

honorable gentleman had been ‘ entirely in order j amf whatever might be the opinion os to the details and the general spirit of hie proposals, ho must say that ho nad urged them in. a manner entirely candid) and in a * manner which did him very great credit. At the same time he wag quite sure the ’ honorable gentleman would give, iu the same spirit, the perfect assurance that a full opportunity would bo afforded of discussing the statement at such length as might be convenient. He hoped the honoroblc gentleman would favour him with some information aa

to when an opportunity would be afforded [To he continued.)