The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2646, 27 June 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1889.

Equal and cxact lustice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The Colonial Treasurer's Budget presented to the House of Representatives on Tuesday is a very able one. It is, without question, Sir Harry Atkinson's finest effort; he has, on the present occasion, far excelled himself. Throughout the Statement there breathes a spirit of there is in it the ring of true patriotism, that come upon lis almost as a surprise. It is, none the less, extremely gratifying and welcome to the ear of the country. It will be equally so to those at a distance who follow the fortunes of the colony with deep interest. The distinguishing feature of tlio Statement is its clearness ; there is no mystification, ro attempt to disguise the actual state of the colony. In this it compares immensely above all others that have preceded it, and which invariably furnished cause for discontent and fierce onslaught on their authors, After a perusal of Tuesday's Budget, the intelligent portion of the public can foe! that tho position of the country has been brought within tho range of comprelionsion without tho aid of political jugglery. The chango in tho tone of the Colonial Treasurer is readily accounted for. Two years ago he had as difficult and unpleasant a task to perform as over foil to tho lot of a Minister. Tho colony was plunged into the depths of financial troubles that threatened national bankruptcy, the whole population was overwhelmed with depression in every department of its trade and industry, and they were groaning from the effect? of heavy taxation and the consequence of a long period of corrupt parliamentary government. The Colonial Treasurer had then to tell the people and the world the horrible truth. He did it in uncompromising language, and the truth was most unpalatable to friend and foe. Sir Harry Atkinson was assailed from all quarters ; but he met the attacks upon him with the doggedness of his nature, and set himseff toperform the onerous task—the cleansing of the Augtean stables—to which he was specially commissioned by the voice of the constituencies. Now, there is a totally different tale to tell, and the Premier tells it with the air and pride of a man who has succeeded, of one who is conscious of having been the instrument by which great service has been done to the State We can well appreciate the feelings and sentiments that pervade the remarkable Statement presented on Tuesday night, and envy the Treasurer the praise he deserves, and which cannot be denied him. We do not say that all has been done in the direction of reducing the cost o£ governing the country to a state more consistent with economy; in this respect we repeat that much remains undone. But, the Government has emphatically declared that their policy of retrenchment will not be relaxed. There is in the Statement the fact, it sounds like a fiction it is so strange, of au actual surplus. Without probing the manner by which the Colonial Treasurer demonstrates the possession of this surplus, we join in the congratulations that the expenditure has, at last, balanced with the ordinary revenue, and that the colony is now living well within its means ; and, further, that the estimates for the year 18S9-90 give the reassuring promise of a similar happy experience at its financial termination. It is satisfactory to find there is no need for the application of increased taxation, though, it is certain that popular feeling will not be much appeased by the proposals in regard to the Property-tax. Tho cost of tho Education system is still increasing ; no reduction is hoped for in that direction, for the Government appear indisposed to grapple boldly with so formidable a question at present, though they must inevitably do so at some future time. The Colonial Treasurer's mind is not made up as to the merits of his semi-protective tariff and of its influence on the country, and requires the experience of another year's operations to test it conclusively. It is clear, however, the tariff did not yield the expected revenue. The Government'sintentions with respect to the Otago Central Pailway will be fully explained in the Public Works Statement. However valuable the country the line is intended to traverse, which we do not doubt, tlie policy of committing the colony to such a large and expensive undertaking, oven without a loan, will be severely criticised. The country is decidedly adverse Id any further expenditure of the kind for some time to como, the North Island Trunk lines not excepted, and would prefer to seo them liuitg up as unproductive and beyond the means of the colony. Our debt, is already too vast for us, and the interest on tho .£.'37,000,000 is a terrible strain upon us, under any circumstances, Tho colon}'' is recovering rapidly, us the Colonial

Treasurer lias so clearly and forcibly shown. Let us continue on the right road, and resist all temptations to stop away from it.