TELEGRAPHIC.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1441, 28 September 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

* NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. [pee peess agency.] Hokitika, September 28. There was a continuance of most severe weather all the week. The steamer Waipara is supposed to bo in shelter at Jackson’s Bay. The rivers are heavily flooded. Traffic inland is all stopped. No Christchuich coach arrived since last Saturday. PARLIAMENTARY. * Friday, Septembee 27. LAND TAX BILL. After 10 last night the House continued in committee on the Land Tax Bill. In replying to the remarks against clause 4, Mr Bullance said this was the Bill, and the Government were not so fond of their seats as to turn tail in committee. They would not be worthy of confidence if they did. They believed this was a right principle, that the House and country were in favor of it, and they would stand or fall by the result. The object of the Government was to get at the speculator and to promote the interests of the improver of the land. Mr Rolleston said the financial policy - of the Government seemed to be without principle, and he could not vote for any single item, and he was surprised to hear Mr : Bryce’s declaration, because Re was one of those who turned out the late Government merely on the ground that they were not the only men who could govern the country. There were no principles in the policy, which was simply a number of the Attorney-General’s political “ fads.” ' j Mr Montgomery was quite aware of the difficulties of struggling farmers, but as this was a revenue'tax, the House ought not to forget there were large and valuable properties in towns and suburbs which would escape taxation. This was especially unfair in view of the exemption up to £SOO, which had been carried. However, he would be inclined to take the clause as it stood and see how it would work. He admired the Government for saying they would stick to their principle, but at the same time the Government must recollect they had not brought down such measures as their supporters had a right to expect, and if their supporters fell away they must not blame their supporters but themselves for that.J Mr Wason said his principal objection was that, if this system of valuation were adopted by the General Government, then it would also bo adopted by the various local bodies in the colony, and that would be most pernicious in its result. " IL— A division was taken on the question that the words “proposed to be omitted” stand part of the clause. The result was—Ayes, 41; Noes, 12. AYES. Messrs Baigent Messrs Kelly Ballancc Macandrcw Barff McMinn Bartou Montgomery Bastings Moss Brandon Murray B>'own, J. C. Nahe Carrington Ormond De Lautour Rees Dignan Sauudcrs Driver Stout Feldwick Taiaroa Fisher Takamoana Fitzroy Tawiti George Tole Hamlin Turnbull Hislop Wallis Hobbs Whitaker Hursthouse Wood Johnston Woolcoek Joyce! Noes. Messrs Beetham Messrs Stevens Bowen Swanson Gibbs Sutton Gisborne Teschemaker Kelly Wakefield Richardson Wason In reference to sub-sections 2 and 3, Mr Ballauce agreed to their being struck out so as to leave it to the valuers to fit the valuation. Mr Murray objected to this course being adopted, but the sub-sections were struck out on the voices. In reply to Mr Stevens, Mr Ballance promised to reconsider subsection $ so as to meet the cases of runholders whoso runs were liable to be selected. The clause as amended was agreed to. Several clauses were postponed, and others passed with slight verbal amendments. The House rose at 2.40.