GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 986, 23 August 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Telegraph.] [pee press agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 22. The House met at 2.30 p.m. HE G. E. BARTON’S PETITION. The Public Petition Committee recommended that Mr G. Barton’s petition against the Judges should be referred to a Select Committee, consisting of Sir G. Grey, Messrs Fox, Bowen, Stafford, and Stevens. Mr Sheehan thought it unwarrantable that the Petitions Committee should nominate a Select Committee. The Speaker expressed the opinion that, following the rule of the House of Commons, the responsibility of moving for a committee should rest with Mr Sheehan. Mr Sheehan said he would to-morrow state whether he would prosecute the matter. LAND IN OTAGO. Mr Bastings, as a matter of general interest, read a telegram stating that 40,000 acres land at Roxburgh having been opened yesterday for application in 200 acre agricultural leases, applications to the extent of 47,000 acres had been received. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Tole, Mr Whitaker stated the Government did not intend to extend the operation of the Armitage Pension Act, 1805, but they would make further enquiries. Replying to Mr Shrimski, Mr Ormond said it was not intended at present to make a siding on the railway near the Otepopo river, but he would make further enquiries, NEW BILL. New Bill introduced, the Native Marriages Validation Bill —Mr Taiaroa. INCIDENCE OP TAXATION, Mr Ballance resumed the incidence of taxation question. He accepted accuracy of figures in the Financial Statement tables, but thought the comparison attempted between the public debts of England and the colony were altogether fallacious. It would be fairer to compare interests paid with the trade of cout tries. New Zealand trade, taking exports and imports, was eleven times the annual charge for interest, while England’s was twenty-four times, New South Wales and Victoria both showed better than New Zealand. Even on the Treasurer’s own basis he thought the proposal to borrow two million more would be received with astonishment at home. Political rest in borrowing was indeed needed. He should study the opinions of the English money market rather than our own estimate of our resources. He quoted numerous English authorities to show that we had reached the length of our tether. He believed the proposed further demand would create an outcry in England, and thought itamistake to include in the colonial Financial Statement revenues made strictly local by law, such as lands and goldfields revenue. Sir G. Grey’s principles were sound, though the details were insufficiently considered. The remission of taxation at present was impossible. It required serious consideration before any alteration could be made. Ad valorem duties were preferable to measurement. The effect of taxing colonial beer would bo to increase the consumption of English beer. A tax of 5s a hogshead would perhaps not he objectionable, but to tax sugar would affect other industries growing up, such as confectionery, preserves, &c. He objected to a tax on salt. During the debate, the issue had been between the working-classes and wealthy land owners. Small settlers —a most imSt class—had altogether been over- . On them the customs duties on neces-

sarios pressed most heavily. He thought the Government during the recess had done all they could in departmental retrenchment. He objected to an acreage tax as being most unjust, even with classification. He denied that taxation on property would reduce wages. This overlooked the law of supply and demand. A property tax would naturally deduct mortgages, and an income tax on interest of mortgages would amount to so little as not to affect the question. Despite that tax the colony would still offer far greater inducements for investment of foreign capital than were offered at home. Such tax would raise the public credit, and so offer greater inducements to people to invest. He objected to the depriving of local bodies of subsidies. It would put a stop to the construction of all arterial works. The land fund should be employed in making roads to open up the country, not as a general n f* we. Captain Russell replied to remarks made by Sir G. Grey regarding himself and family in regard to a Hawke’s Bay land transaction. Ho had only about one-eighth of the amount of land. He stated that he had bought it honestly, openly, and fairly. He thought that fresh taxation would be absolutely necessary next session. It could not be imposed through the Customs. He believed it sound policy to remove taxes from necessaries. He did not believe in the poor man’s cry. He urged attention to the duty on sugar as a protection to beetroot. Mr CtTTii beutson was willing that property should bear a fair share of taxation, but he objected to Sir George Grey’s scheme of breaking up large estates as unnecessary and unfair.

Mr Woolcock objected to a tax on salt and sugar, articles which of all others should be relieved. In the arguments used about high wages the purchasing power of the money had bee?i overlooked. Men would be better off with less gross earnings if they were able to purchase more with the money earned. He objected to an acreage tax on land. The necessaries of life should be relieved, but nothing could be done this year. The debate was interrupted at 5.30 p.m.