WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

“ A MODEL BUDGET.” THE -■REFORM- VIEW. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, July 9

Under this Lending, “ A .Model Budget.” tile “Dominion” this morning lnunchcs forth into the warmest eulogy of the new Finance Minister's lirst Budget. “The lion W. Downie Stewart in the Budget lie placed before Parliament last evening,” says the Deform organ, “ made a very marked departure from past practice. This Financial Statement was a statement explaining the position of the finances of the country. A very lucid statement, briefly yet adequately setting out the facts embellished only with such commentaries as might seem necessary to clear away misconception and minimise the risk of misunderstanding. The 1926 Budget is in some respects a masterly production. ft covers the salient features of the public finances with a brevity which suggests the exercise! of much care in the elimination ol all but essential matter, and there is a wholesome frankness in dealing with such questions as taxation, the public debt, etc.” The “etc” may seem a somewhat crude summary ol this verit* able counsel of perfection, but on such an occasion there is no need to be explicit. 'flic late -Mr Richard Seddon, the ” Dominion ” recalls, enlarged financial statements to an unconscionable length “ in which finance became quite a secondary matter.” and .Mr Stewart, il, thanks its stars, has brought the Department and its methods finally hack to reason.

WORKMAN!, IKE, CAUTIOUS AND ENCOURAGING. Under this more spacious heading the “ New Zealand Times.” though finding excuses for the employment of its adjectives, is slightly more critical than its morning contemporary. “Budgets tend, like speeches from the Throne.” it says, “to become duller and duller. They consist for the most part of masses of facts and figures, some of which we know already, and others which few are the wiser lor being told. Mr Downie Stewart’s first Financial Statement fs no exception to the general rule. It is even less interesting than usual, for the reason that it leaves taxation where it is and fails to provide for a variation ol the present tax incidence;” Having, however. discharged this obligation to its traditional party colour it looks around for the bright spots in the .Minister’s “ workmanlike, cautious and encouraging ” performance. “But,” it proceeds, “ if the Statement is neither entertaining nor spectacular it is. nevertheless, a plain, workmanlike compilation. Fireworks were not to he expected of the Minister for Finance, especially as the country is loaded with an adverse trade balance. In the circumstances, Air Stewart was sure to play for safety. Caution, then, is the keynote of the Budget, the prejiaration of which is based on the prospect of a possible reduction in the gross revenue for 1926-27. The uncertainty of the future demanded some such policy.” And the public as usual is taking less interest in the whole matter than it is in the next test match. GREAT NATIONAL FIGURE.

Never an annual meeting of flic Racing Conference passes by without bringing' expressions of regret from people aeqauinted with the inside of the Dominion’s Parliament that 'Sir George Clifford, the president of the Cotdcreuce. who directs the affairs of that body with singular tact and ability, has persistently refused lo enter tli.’ political arena. To see Sir George presiding at a meeting of the Conference. or indeed at any gathering of IV, kind, no matter what its constitution or its purpose may he, is to realise that here is a man so strong,, so constant, so fully-informed, and yet so tolerant and so sympathetic that nothing but right and justice can prevail urcier his guidance. The historic n ime >ir George hears is graven huge m the early history of the - Ponviuon being associated with both great political and great pastoral achievements, and Sir George himself, had he been so inclined, might have aspired with the utmost propriety to the highest office in the land. Gifted and equipped far beyond the great majority of his contemporaries, it was for iliim to pursue any career he pleased in the public life of the community. But perhaps, after all, he chose the better part. One cannot think ol’ Ills adjusting his point of view to the party politics of the present day. Outside Parliament lie at least remains himself, a traditional bulwark of the nation’s greatness. an English gentleman.

SUMMER TIME. .Mr T. K. Si dev. with whom hope springs eternal, is fairly confident of Seeing his Summer Time liill placed on the Statute Rook during tile present session. Tts passage through the House on Wednesday was something more than a. mere,compliment to its author, members being free to vote just as they pleased, and its chances in the Council are better than they ever have been before. Supporters of the Bill less confiding than is -Mr Sidey himself, fear that the weight of ministerial influence in the Council will wreck the Bill, hut the Prime Minister has so frequently reiterated his determination to let the measure have a “ fair run ” it is scarcely conceivable that he will attempt to arrest its passage at the present stage. The measure so far has been much assisted, by the investigation of various “ daylight saving ” schemes in the United States of America, where, in the Urban iliptHets, at any rate, it has beeit fbijild that “summer time ’’ is as good foi* business as it is for the employees and that it involves no dislocation of social observances nor df ebinmereial and trading customs. Leavened by a little com-mon-sense it has proved a great success. It is difficult to imagine that the result under simiinr conditions would be less satisfactory here.