POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2390, 3 November 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The Budget Proposals. Wellington, Wednesday. The Financial Statement to-day was favourably received in all quarters. Of course there is no enthusiasm about it. It is hardly to be expected that anybody would gush over such a scheme of drastic retrenchment. It is felt, however, that the Budget proposals will thoroughly test the sincerity of the retrenchment cry of the present House. The Protectionists already predict that the determination not to revise the ■ tariff will cause the defeat of the Government; while the Free Trade section allege it will be their salvation. The feeling that the Crown and Native Land Rating Act must he repealed is pretty unaminous. Major Atkinson has no objection to extend the time for no farther borrowing to, five years if the House desires it. On the whole the general feeling on the statement is decidedly favourable and from a Ministerial point of view, there is really not much for the Opposition to cavil at. The Budget has greatly strengthened the position of the Government. The Opposition were to have held a meeting this morning to consider the Financial Statement, but it was postponed till to-mor-row, as Sir Julius Vogel had not had sufficient time to make a digest of the Colonial Treasurer’s figures. The Press on the Budget-

The Wellington Press is unanimous in congratulating Major Atkinson on his Financial Statement. Even the Post, which is not generally an admirer of the Premier, says it was a brave and honest attempt to face the difficulties of the position in which the colony stands, and congratulates Major Atkinson and his colleagues on the general character of the proposals embodied in their Budget, which it says is an infinitely better one than could reasonably have been expected, and is one of the most able and straightforward statements of the kind ever delivered in this colony.