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Evening Star, Issue 3815, 17 May 1875, Page 2

The tendency shewn by the Executive to make the business of the Council take the form of that conducted by a financial Board of Works is m the right direction. It is not to be supposed that it will be readily acceptable to members who have grievances to ventilate. The Estimates will be the cover under which such grievances will find vent. One advantage was obtained under the old plan of interminable deoatts on Ministerial statements, votes of want of confidence, and the like—that a safety-valve was afforded excitable elements in the Council: a safety valve which, being freely used, [enabled the Estimates to slip through afterwards without unnecessary opposition, ihis can hardly be expected this year. The general silence on all questions yet introduced “ominous of a good deal of latent discontent, which has not yet found a centre of expression. As a rule, we do not suppose that financial proposals are much improved in Committee or by changes of Government forced upon them. The converse certainly could not be laid down that Executive measures should always be swallowed without consideration. The main danger to be_ apprehended in Provincial financial propositions at present is that, as yet, sparsely populated districts, in which very large sales of land are taking place, may not receive sufficient expenditure in roads and works. Rates levied hereafter in such districts will mainTf in r £ cannot possibly create them. If such alienated districts do not now rec ive a fair share of the land revenue they contribute, the settlers in them must, indirectly if not directly, become burdensome to the Province that neglects them. Comparing Mr Tdbnbull’s proposals with the money actually expended last year, they do not appear at all one-sided. 1 hat that will be the opinion of the Council generally is not to be expected. On the way the estimates are met by the Council to-night depends the length the session will yet run te. the work is well in hand now, and should be expeditiously completed. Perhaps the political honaon is just a little too calm.