THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1912. THE BUDGET DEBATE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10693, 14 August 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1912. THE BUDGET DEBATE.

The debate on the Budget is resolving itself into a political go-as-you-plea.se On the one side it b sought to he shown that the "outs" should be the "iir«s," and on the other, that the "outs," being thoroughly "outed," •should accept the position philosophically. An unique feature of the debate i« the fact that the Opposition, being without a leader, is in a state of bedraggled incompetency. It is- a<i a helpless derelict, floating jn> an ocean of disappointment, with no officer to command, no man to control the helm. Another remarkable aspect of the position in that the estimates, having been practically prepared by the Opposition, cannot well be criticised by those who were responsible for their cons'truetion. The best that can be expected of the debate is that it will afford an opportunity to the disgruntled Oppositionists to explain why things are in such a. terrible mess as the Government has found them. The very best thing the Opposition could do would be to maintain an attitude of dignified silence, and allow the business of the .country to proceed. It does not very much matter what i s Mr Russell',, opinion of Mr Rhoderick MoKenzic, or Mr McKenzie's opinion* of Mr 'Russell. Nor will the protestation? of the discredited party that they have-been painted blacker than they really are. help them out of their dary. A debate upon the individual measures promised in. the Budget :s a sheer waste of time at this "juncture: Full opportunity will be given for the discussion of e:ich Bill as it is brought down. The Government would be the better conserving the interests of the country and maintaining the dignity of the House by shutting down upon the debate at the earliest possible moment. One of the first reforms the country ba« a -right io expect is in the practise of filling Hansard with frothy ebullitions of incoherent nothingness.