TELEGRAPHIC.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1418, 31 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[per press agency.] Nelson, August 31. Great anxiety and alarm are created by the Hon. Mr Maoandrew’s proposal to entirely exclude the Nelson province from all participation in the benefits of the public works scheme for the next five years. A public meeting on the subject has been called by the Mayor for Tuesday. Patea, August 31. The “ Mail ” says Mr Macandrew’s proposition in the Public Works Statement which practically leaves but three per cent of the land fund to the Patea County is viewed with alarm and dissatisfaction ; that the expenditure on the Now Plymouth harbor is no benefit to Patea which is thus deprived of funds urgently needed for roads of its own or for its own harbor. It says want of local knowledge must have induced Mr Macandrew to m .ko such a proposition, thinking the Taranaki and Patea interests allied, whereas they are antagonistic. Wellington, August 31. The Arawata is now undergoing repairs in Melbourne, and Messrs McMeckan and Blackwood have asked and obtained permission from the Government for the Eingarooma to come direct to Wellington next trip, and leave Wellington with the outward Suez mail on Monday, September 23rd, instead of 22nd. Dunedin, August 31. The “ Herald ’' says “ several runs in the neighborhood of Dunedin, the licenses of which expired on the 28th June, remain undealt with. They have neither been relct or advertised for sale. With a plethoric Treasury, however, the loss of revenue will not be noticed. This loose mode of conducting the administration of Crown Lands is, we presume, the result of centralising all the functions of the Government. Their disposal should have been determined upon a year ago.” P AELI AMEN TAR Y. Last Night's Proceedings. Wellington, August 31. On the debate on the Land Tax Bill, Mr Saunders followed Mr Woolcock. He gave the principle of the Bill a hearty support, though of many of the details he did not approve. Ho recognised it as an attempt to place a tax on the right shoulders. He approved of not taxing improvements, but taxing the land itself. According to increased value, classification, however, would have to bo resorted to, in order to exempt land not benefitted by railways. Improvements should not be extended to towns. Ho disapproved of small holders being exempted, nor did he think they would object to paying their fair share when their land was improved, in the sumo manner as that of their neighbors. Though he had fought all his life against runholders getting an unfair advantage, ho could not see the justice of the pastoral tenant paying as much as the person who had a permanent right to the land, for the value of which he was taxed. That would be alike unfair and impolitic, and, at first he thought it must have been a mistake. Let them bo fair to rich and poor alike. He thought the Government made a mistake in thinking they got at absentees by a tax on joint stock and loan companies. They were putting a tax upon the industries of the colony, because it was the borrower who eventually had to pay. Mr Dclatonr spoke at considerable length, defending nil the Government proposals regarding taxation. Those who supported Government in the land tax proposed did not regard the tax on the landowners as the hou. member for Cheviot seemed to think ; but regarded it as a tax on what was known as unearned increment of rent. He would not agree wit h the member for Cheviot, (hat the holders of pastoral licenses should be exempted from the payment of the tax. This was more the assertion of a principle than the imposition of a tax, and if it wore resisted, then the question would have to bo considered whether property should not bear its fair proportion of the burdens of the districts li which it was situated. It was the duty of the Liberals and of any Liberal Government claiming to hold the reins of power, to rid the consolidated fund of such burdens us should be borne by means of local taxation, in such a way that property would be called upon to discharge its duties, and then it would perhaps exorcise its rights as to taxing joint slock and loan companys if it were found that foreign capital was once being employed ia the colony, and

that the profits arising from the employment of that capital were drawn away from the colony. Ho thought the experiment should be made of imposing a small tax upon it. He did not see how they could attempt to balance the tax on foreign and local capital. The capital would go to the markets. Where could capital find a more profitable field for investment than in New Zealand ? Mr Sutton objected to several of the proposals. The tax on beer and boots would full only on the poor man, and as for reductions in the tariff, it would not amount to more than 2s 9i per head per annum. Mr Wakefield moved the adjournment of the debate till Monday, and The House adjourned at 12.20.