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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2

As was to be expected, the fiscal policy of the Government is provoking a prolonged and animated debate in which it is being subjected to general review and severe criticism from members on all sides of the House. The increase of duties in the tariff is meeting with a very considerable ainouut of disfavour, not only from the Freetraders who are thoroughly opposed to them on principle, but from others not so pronounced in their views, and also from a section of the Opposition who are moved by party spirit. The feeling in the country is very much divided on the question, and the wisdom of inflicting such heavy imposts, at the time when the burden of the people is as heavy as they can bear without actually succumbing under it, is regarded with grave anxiety by those who give the critical position of the colony serious thought and consideration. A study of tbs debate, as far as it has already proceeded, proves that the imperative need of the Colonial Treasurer for revenue to meet the heavy expenditure of the colony, to which it has been committed, is fully recognised by honorable members ; the whole country itself has become alive to the painful fact by the undisguised statement of its affairs, placed before it by: the Budget. Kvery credit is conceded to the Ministry for the large amount of retrenchment tlicy have succeeded in effecting in the cost of the public service during the comparatively short period they have bad at their disposal. Hut-the tariff proposals, in their unexpected severity, promise to give rise to complications that may produce mother political crisis, carrying in its train more evil consequences to the colony. Parties have been torn asunder, and are more disorganised than befoio. Ministerialists have ranged themselves against the Government, and Oppositionists have become supporters of the Colonial Treasurer. The Government invited suggestions from the House in order to arrive at the most acceptable manner for extricating the country from the difficulties by which it is beset. But notwithstanding their invitatiou, tendered with such a display of cordiality, and though such a number of their supporters threaten to secede from their ranks, the Premier and his colleagues express their determination to push their Customs Bill through. The attitude of the Premier towards Mr Ormond's resolution was curious, to say the. least of it. He first warmly approved of the resolution as offering an opportunity to review the financial proposals of the Government before the debate on the Customs Bill took place, and this friendly disposition gave rise to the suspicion that theie was some collusion between him and the honourable member for Napier, in order to dhconcort the House over the

tarill". The Premier, however, treated Mr Ormond's resolution, when moved, \vit!i small courtesy, and actually opposed the motion in an uncompromising manner.

It is difficult to foretell in what direction tlia discussion of the Customs Bill will terminate. The strong antagonism shown towards it in the House, the undecided and varied reception it has received from the country, and the uneasy feeling and absence of relief that have, been engendered throughout the community by the policy t>f taxation, may ; endanger the position nft the Ministry. IC is not at all improbable that they may suffer a defeat; but, it can be looked upon as certain that the division on the second reading will be a close one. Should they be defeated, the outcome, of the crisis would, in all likelihood, result in a reconstruction of the Cabinet, with the introduction of a policy embodying less of a protective tendency, and with an inclination to reduce the general expenditure by further retrenchments, and more economy in the system of administration in place of increasing the burden of direct taxation, as is now proposed.