POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8496, 27 July 1907, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT DEBATE. WELLINGTON, July 26. For many years there has been no Budget deliverance so fraught with importance to the colony as that which was delivered by the Colonial Treasurer on the iGth instant, yet it produced a record for brevity of debate, and probably a record for the conspicuous lack of grasp of the importance of the occasion displayed by those who attempted to criticise the Financial Statement. Almost from the outset there was an absence of "fire" on the part of the critics in dealing with the salient points of the Budget, and such debate as there was, was on the whole barren of either pyrotecnnical oratory or the fervour of convincing argument. Mr Massey's speech, in opening the discussion, fell far short of what was expected of him on the occasion. It is true he was suffering from a severe cold, and allowances must be made for him; but even so, his marshalling of facts showed little of the generalship demanded of the Leader of the Opposition under the circumstances. He scored a point respecting the lowering of the Land Bill flag which the Government last year declared would never be lowered. Members representing a majority were only too glad to find the leasehold flag lowered to an extent they had not anticipated, and appeared to be content so far as the land question was concerned to await the opportunity of gaining further concessions. Neither Mr Massey nor any of his followers seemed inclined to firmly tackle the financial question, although it is perhaps one of more urgent import than even that of land policy. Mr W. Fraser, of Wakatipu, was about the only speaker who scored points in regard to colonial finance, and he urged the necessity for giving the representatives of the people full and honest information respecting the public accounts. Recognising the way in which moneys which ought to be charged to revenue had been paid out of capital account, he felt justified in assumintr that the proposed sinking fund would be provided out of loans, ar.„ ~ jld thus be a sham. From the commencement of the second day's debate it was manifest that a "fizzle out" was imminent. The House was thin—members being weary after a day on the racecourse I —and there was a listlessness about those present which spelt "indifference." No one was surprised when, shortly after 11 p.m., Sir Joseph Ward rose to reply, and, members heaved a sigh of relief when he had concluded and they were permitted to go home. The two reai fighting speeches came from Mr MeNab and Sir Joseph Ward. Usually Mr MsNab is as calm as an icicle when speaking, but Mr Massey's frequent references to his backing down on the Land Bill stirred him as Ms never been stirred before. No one listening to him would assume that conscience had made a coward of him, for he put on an air of righteous indignation at the criticism levelled at him and was irate and ambidextral to a degree that must have surprised his most intimate friends. He, of course, scorned the charge of having lowered his'fiag. One feature about Mr McNab's orations is worthy of remark. He never uses notes, and is never at ! a loss. He can cite the remarks of every speaker he wishes to combat, and is raxely at fault in his citation. His memory is extraordinary, and must be invaluable to him as a Minister. Sir Joseph Ward's speech ,vas an excellent on; from the point of view he took up, but was not convincing to those who would like a clearer exposition of the country's finances. He showed a desire to meet reasonable'objections to various items on the tariff schedule, but of course there may be a wide divergence between what he and others deem "reasonable." A HOPELESS MEASURE. On Thursday, instead of the House getting to useful business, practically the whole sitting was wasted on the farce of stonewalling that most noxious of Bills, the Noxious Weeds Bill. This is the third sitting this session that has been wasted upon an utterly hopeless measure. Any stranger visiting the House while this perennial weed of a Bill is under considaration must leave with a profound contempt for our Parliamentary institution and the members that compose its personnel. JOTTINGS. Mr Lawrie has been appointed Chairman of the Agricultural and Stock Comftiittee. It is the intention of that body shortly to visit the State farm in the Mangatainoka district. Notwithstanding the condemnation of the Government's frequent bor rowing proposals, members still insist upon asking for large sums to be spent on railways and public works in their districts. The Government naturally use these objections as an argument against expenditure, though it is not always logical in doing so. The perennial Million Loan Bill lumps all the railway works in the vote of £375,000. Following the Seddonian practice, nothing is "earmarked."