MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD. FRIDAY. JUNE 13, 1902. THE SESSION'S PROGRAMME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7320, 13 June 1902, Page 2

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD.

FRIDAY. JUNE 13, 1902. THE SESSION'S PROGRAMME.

iNO ■' POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 2,">(W Oopios Diiiiy

The Acting-Premier lias spoken, and has outlined the Government programme for the session, which can only be characterised as flat, stale and unprofitable. Nothing statesmanlike, nothing progressive, nothing interesting, except what has boon filched from the brains of other members and has been before the House for years past. Tho statement that nothing will be done to amend the Licensing laws, will not be welcome news to those staunch friends of the Government connected with the trade, who have every reason to be dissatisfied with the fact that a deliberate pledge given-, to them has been broken. A remarkable statement is made that although tho surplus is £270.000, tho liabilities unpaid, that is vouchers actually passed by the Audit Department for payment but not brought to account before the end of the financial year, total tho large sum of £181,000 i Wo wonder what a private business man wonld think of a surplus of that sort ? A sidelight is thrown on one factor in tho prosperity of tho colony for tho last two years, by tho statement that there has been spent in tho colony in connection with tho despatch of contingents no less than £2,095,755, presumably the contribution of tho Imperial Government. With such a large amount of extra money circulated, and the pay left in tho colony by troopers who havo gone over, there ia no wonder that most people aro prosperous and happy, but luck like that cannot last for oyer, and whilo we would be very sorry to join the ranks of tho croakera, we havo no doubt that there will be a tightening of the money chest in the colony before very long.