APPROPRIATION BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 538, 4 October 1902, Page 3

APPROPRIATION BILL

OPTIMISTIC SPEECH BY ACTING PREMIER.

By Telegraph—Tress Association

Wellington, last night. Tho Appropriation Bill was brought down at 3 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward, replying on tho third reading of tho Bill, maintained that Mr James Allon had misrepresented the finances of the colony. Tho amount of the proposed expenditure under the Public Works Statement would bo lower this year than formerly. If the estimated rovenuo and expenditure were takon, it would bo found that thoy wero

leaving a larger margin than during the previous yoar in order to carry on. Owing to tho sovoro droughts and other things in othor oolonies New Zealand was

in a far sounder condition financially. During tho past ton years, the Parliament of Now Zealand had given bock to tho peopio of tho colony £525,000 in tho form of remission of taxation. There had been an increase of ,£22,000 in the revonuo of tho colony for the month of September, ns against tho same month of last year. For the same month, tho beer duty had increased £6OO.

Sir William Russell : “ They aro drinking to drown caro.”—(Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward said that tho railway rovenuo had also gono up £12,000. Tho colony had been prosecuting a very vigorous public works policy, and ho had novor known a timo when £525,000 had been voted by Parliament for railways, roads, and bridges, as had been tho case this yoar. He thought tho colony’s financo was so good that this vigorous public works policy could bo carried with snfoty. Tho business of Parliament was rapidly increasing, and thero had never been a year in tho history of Parliament when thero had been so much printing of ovidonce, etc., at the Government Printing Office. With regard to tho South African sorvice, the AgentGeneral had advised tho Government that he had received four or fivo tenders. The Government had cabled for particulars, and had received two tenders in the colony. They would go through the tenders, and see if they could aecept one ; it might probably bo for a shorter period than originally proposed. The country was prosperous, and ho bolioved members were going back to their '■onstituents under the happy eireumstauces that had obtained in the colony for yearß past. Thero was no fear of an increase of taxa-

tion, nor that thoy were going too fast with their public works policy, in view of the large votes that they had been able to placo on tho Estimates for railways and roads and bridges. Government had not had timo this session to deal with the Land Bill, and he thought members should consult thoir constituents during tho recess, and legislation in connection with land roform could be introduced next session. Tho Bill was then passed.