PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS.

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

PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS.

(i'ROXL THE CORRESPONDENT OP THE PRESS.) Wellington, August 22.

The debate on taxation dragged slowly on last night. The House seems all of a sudden to have come to the unanimous conclusion that a property and income tax is necessary, though the subject was never debated before, and it is merely a question whether a Bill shall be introduced this year or next. Mr Stafford made a temperate speech, at length advocating the tax, but deprecating Sir George Grey’s hasty action. He said he thought such a proposal had been shown in the Financial Statement, and would have expected to see it introduced next year. The debate has given an opportunity to those who could contain themselves no longer to criticise the Financial Statement, which formed the principal branch of the discussion last night. The House has, I fancy, made up its mind to let the taxation question be postponed, and there may possibly be no division. The Opposition members have said openly that they do not. expect to defeat the Government, but intend to harass them all they can, to show their unfitness for their position. The Local Option Bill was expected to have been resumed-this evening, but the taxation debate is being continued. Mr Woolcock is now (eight o’clock) speaking. The Local Option Bill is fixed for to-morrow evening if this debate be concluded to-night.