VICTORIAN POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3079, 9 April 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

VICTORIAN POLITICS.

Mr Shi els has delivered himself of the Government programme, at which his opponents affect to laugh. Mr D.akin, whOße Government was brought Mown by the " Octopus " Railway Bill, call-! it an " Octopus " policy, fie is not far out. It embraces nearly everything, and the affected laughter of the Opposition is very strongly strictured with dismay, for the project is wide, wise and statesmanlike. It offends all classes a little no doubt, and upon that fact the Opposition chiefly base their hopes of overthrowing it. But all classes are in truth prepared to be offended. That is to say, all classes are prepared to subject it to the evils of reduced pay and increased taxation, not because they like them, but because they are inevitable. As Mr Shiels says, it is impossible to predict now within a quarter of a million what the deficit will be, but it will certainly be over a million, and perhaps more. The shrinkage in the ordinary revenue since last year has been very great—about £400,000 in round figures up to date. The railways, which last year did not meet their expenses by £300,000, are this year taking less by £9000 per week, and the situation is one which requires vigorous handling. There may be, and possibly is, a politician who can prepare a plan to oppose that of Mr Shiels, but he must be prepared to show where he will save, and where he will lay on extra taxation, and it will not be an easy task. If the deficit were not so appalling the proposals would seem drastic indeed. The reduction of all salaries paid by the State excepting those of the Governor and the judges and those under £170 per annum. The imposition of an income tax and a beer tax aud a tax upon tea and another upon spirits, the abolition of the penny post and the reduction of the railway facilities and the increase of the railway charges make a list which is formidable in the extreme. But it is necessary and right. It will restore our foreigu credit and increase our domestic prosperity for it will remove for ever | the temptatation to spend more money than we can afford by fixing in our minds the sacrifices that kind of conduct imposes upon us. It is noticeable too that tho opponents •f the Government are very chary of expressing an opinion on any one point of the pngramme. Mr Deakin confined himself to describing it as an " octopus policy." Mr G. D. Carter said it was a policy of " omission," because it omitted to account for the choice of Mr Munro as Agent-General, and Mr Patterson said, " You cannot take a step backwards," alluding to a proposal to restore the twopenny postage charge. But these are mere fliers not arguments. Steps backwards are taken \ery often aud this is a ease in which they are imperative. The scheme which touches all classes will probabl) aud by satisfying all classes and the Government never had so good a chance of success as now. The reductions are to be very small on incomes under £300 per annum and risa gradually until they take in the Ministry at 11 per cent. No one is to be discharged to add to the unemployed ami everybody is to be made to pay a little. Iu the long run this course will have to be adopted, if not by Mr Shiels by another, and though certain points may be modified in detail in the struggle for place yet in the sallietit features of the scheme you may read the fiuancial future of Victoria.