PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 354, 9 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

On Thursday afternoon, in the House of Representatives—

Mr Macandrew brought up the report of the Election Telegrams Committee. He stated that the Committee were of opinion that seven telegrams sealed up and accompanying the report had been improperly laid on the table. The report itself set forth that five messages were originally paid tor by the senders and forwarded , through the Department to the destination of Ministers, and two were sent by a mistake of the Telegraph Office. These had been sealed up and left untouched. SeventyTsix telegrams in all had been sent and received 1 by Government on election subjects. Mr Montgomery asked that the evidence and proceedings of the Coinmittea be read. The report was not a unanimous one, as there were three votes on one side and four on the other. A long discussion ensued, in the course of which various charges aad countercharges were made. A motion to the effect that the minutes and proceedings of the Committee be read to the Honse was lost by 41 to 32. A motion for printing the report and evidance was supported by the Premier, but the debate was interrupted by .the dinner adjournment. At the evening sitting, the Hon. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Property Assessment Bill. He said he had already shown that new taxation to a considerable extent was necessary. They had aheady gone as far as they could in the way of indirect taxation was now rendered necessary.

The Hon. gentleman argued at length in favour of taxing a property rather than incomes*. also contended that the Land Tax/?ivas, a gross injustice to. a particular class of the community..*" / *■_ Mepsre Ballahce, ShTiiris«i, Macandrew, Hufeninson, Turnbull, Moss" spoke against tliefßili, while} Mr Dick gave it a lukewarm On a division the second reading 'was earned,by 2,4 to 14. ; On JTrfday the 'debate • was resumed on into Committee on the Bill.'-' During the discussion, Sir G-. Grey said he felt so averse to the measure that | he would offer it resistance at every point,/ v . T . ~ f■' :.' x . ."•',", j In ierilyjng, .Majoy Atkinson said 1 that 1 he contended that the Property Tax was preferable to an income tax. He stated •that the Bill' before- the -House was- no.. show, and Government intended to bring ii into ioperatidn at once. No amendment advanced by the obvious purpose of damaging the Government would ■be submitted to. By applying themselves seriously to the Bill, he believed that they wojuld; succeed in proceeding by no mean, unpopular measure. " On .the question for, going into Com-, mittee, the House—Ayes, 35 J Noes, 25.