LAND TAXES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 649, 28 October 1909, Page 7

LAND TAXES.

VICTORIAN BILL THROUGH SECOND READING. ; (By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright.) Melbourne, October 27. In the Victorian Assembly the Murray Governinenfs Land; Tax • Bill this read a time by 46 votes to 14.

' MINISTRY'S PECULIAR POSITIONThe position in Victorian politics is very peculiar. Th 4 Murray Ministry, which camo into office largely through tho instrumentality of the Country party, has introduced a progressive land ,tax, just tho sort of impost a country party cannot be expected to admito. It was therefore predicted recently that tho Government would not bo able to carry its land tax proposals exotpt by tho assistance of tho Labour party and against its own followers. The danger of tho Government seemed to be that its progressive land tax goes too far for its supporters and not far enough for tho Labour partv: and therefore that tho Government might lose- the support of both. But tho position ha« advantages as well as drawbacks. One factor operating against any defection of tho Government's own followers, the Country party included, is tho fact that they well know that round tho corner waits the Labour party with a still more drastjo progressive land tax, and that, in the words of the "Sydney Morning Herald," "Mr. Murray/s whips are likely to bo more bearable than Mr. Prendergast's scorpions." As to the Labour party,, it mav well bo inclined to support the' Government's land tax proposals'as an instalment of-if;- own. Ac cordinj to tho "Herald," tho Government's tax "may not, be nakedly tho Labour party's proposal, but is sufficiently like to be easily mistaken for it." Tho carrying of the second reading, as cabled to-day, would seem to indicate that most members are content to go so far, but no doubt tho struggle will come m committee, wjien Labour lrill endeavour to strengthen, and tho Government's following to toiw down, the progressive taxes. Some members of tho Country party were in favour of .fighting the Government's Bill on its second reading! but the danger of playing into the hands of Labour, and even of bringing about a Labour Government, moves tho majority to Balk waril}. The anti-land tax element, if defeated in tho Assembly, will no doubt look for relief to the Legislative Council, which recently threw out tho Government's Electoral Kill and may do something similar with the land taxes. • ', ; '