EVENING SITTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1908, 2 August 1888, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m CROWN AND NATIVE LANDS RATING ACT

REPEAL BILL.

The Premier moved the Beoond reading of the Grown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill, fle pointed oat that it had been understood that, besides catting the services, such luxuries were to be lopped off bb could be dispensed with. Government did not claim that they would actually Bave the whole amount now levied under the Act, but the time had come when local bodies mußt bear their share of tho burdens, and there wab no doubt that while the Aot existed, it meant extra taxation on the country generally. It bad bee a rightly u-ged that come counties had got the llon'a share of the money, and this was particularly the case on the West Ooaßt, where four counties had drawn nearly half the total amount paid over.

Mesßro Seddon, Ballance, O'Oonor, Hutchlßon, Newman, Kerr, Graham, Grlmmond, Reeves, and Beethßm spoke to the motion at length. Mr Wa'lkor was glad to find that the debate had been conducted so fairly, and that there was every hopa of a reasonable compromise being effected. Ha pointed out that the West Coast had a groat number of roads to maintain, which could not possibly ba kept up by ordinary revenue, and he wap, therefore, gratified to loam that provision wan to bo made for maintaining those roads. He hoped the Premier would make the terms of the proposed compromise m dear and dht net language.

After farther disoqsslon the BUI rras rend a second time.

The House adjourned at 12.30 a.m