Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGIT KEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1887.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 11638, 10 November 1887, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGIT KEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1887.

The debate on tbe Financial Statement was opened on Tuesday by Sir Julius Yogel, who, as far as we can judge from tbe condensed report of his speech to hand, was in one of his out and out querulous moods- He stated that be was going to deal with it in an impartial manner, but this statement bad about the same significance that shaking hands before a pugilistic encounter b%s. In bis usual flippant style he told the Souse that untold evils would result from their acceptance of the measures proposed by the Government, and continually referred to what the late Government would have done had they been returned to power. He appeared to look on himself as politically whitewashed by the late election, and was quite oblivious of the fact that he had been in power for the proceeding three years,' and had had the opportunity of practically showing what he could do, but had never done it. His Ministry began their career with profuse prom" ises, not least amongst them being the reduction of taxation* At the outset he reduced the property tax to show that the previous Government had been imposing burdens on the people which were unnecessary, but it was a relax* ation of very short duration, as he had to reimpose that tax, and ever after until he and his oolleagues were thrust from office by the voice of the people, his Government showed a determination to impose extra levies on the taxpayers; He condemns retrenchment, and we may infer from his speech that he would not attempt any such measure, but it is the demand of tbe people, as evidenced by the result of the election.9, and Major Atkinson is giving effect to that demand, It may not be palatable to those immediately concerned, nor to the log-rolling minority which Sir Julius represents ; but a large majority of members are returned pledged to see it given effeot to by whatever Government is in power. Sir Juliu9 assured the i?re« tnier that he (the Premier) did not understand the meaning of the sinking fund transactions, a statement which at one time might have oarried some weight with members of the House, but since he has shown by his three years of financial bungling that whether he understands the sinking transactions or not, that he certainly does not understand how to govern a country according to its meana, it will be received with the derision it deserves. He would apparently have us believe that were he cailed away to that bourne whence no traveller returns that the manipulation of the sinking fund would be a lost art; but the sun would rise just as usual the succeeding day, and New Zealand would pureue the even tenor of her way. He would reduce the number of Ministers resident in Wellington to four, and the rest (how many ?) to receive smaller salaries and reside at home to look after looal matters. What the latter part of the proposition means we fail to understand, unless he intends making all tbe chairmen of county counoils coadjutors, or return to some mitigated form of provincialism. Howaver, if he rea'ly believed such a scheme feasible, why did he not put it in practice when he was in power? The public have had enough of theoretical iiolitics, and in future, if we mistake not, will not hand themselves over to anyone giving him permission to weild autocratio power. They have seen the , folly of such a course, and are determined to have a voice in how they are to be ruled. A Government to give satisfaction now must take the people into its confidence*, and bare the -inner workings to public view. Departments must no longer be looked on as bagfuls of mystery too sacred for them to gaze upon: He repudiated the idea of there being any question of Free trade versus Proteotio'n, which must surely tend to alienate a number of hia euporters who hold that their aolo object in being ;e'urned was for the purpose of furthering tbe ends of Protection, but we shall see as the debate progresses how far , these protestations were sincere, or j whether they were merely platforn? platitudes to catoh the popular vote. Ec admitted that what the colony wants is a strong Government, and judging by the fact that tlio Opposition can only count on about thirty-seven rotas oufc of uiaeiy-fivo, and fiud it 13 utterly futilo to inova any adveraa vote, it would appear £h;io .he haa his desire to hia hottvt'a content.