PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1965, 11 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Telegbaph.] [feom due own coeeespondent.] WELLINGTON, June 10. The feeling in the House has not oven yet definitely settled down regarding the financial proposals. The Beer Tax seems to be generally approved, and tho majority favor tho exemptions in the Properly Tax, but the local finance scheme elicits a wide diversity of opinion, which, however, seems mostly adverse to the proposed Local Works Board. It will be some days before members will have really made up their minds on the matter. The Government appear to, have a safe majority of at least ten or twelve, indeed Sir G. Grey, Mr Lundon, Mr Moss, and other strong Opposition members in the debate this afternoon on the Native Affairs Committee frankly admitted that the Ministry !-had a majority strong enough to carry almost anything they pleased. Mach comment has been excited by the garbled^report in “Hansard” of the debate in the Legislative Council regarding the conversion of tho loan, all the strong language used by. Mr Scotland and Colonel Brett being deliberately suppressed... There has also been a good deal of talk about tho singular fact that two Cabinet secrets have been prematurely revealed, and in both cases at Napier. The proposals of tho Government in lieu of subsidies to local bodies were announced “on authority” by the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald” on the 38th ult., the very day that Parliament met. Similarly the intention of tho Government to propose a beer tax was publicly known in Napier on the evening of tho day on which this was disclosed to the House, therefore some hours beforehand, thus enabling the revenue to be materially injured. Ho w the people of Napier obtained this valuable information in advance is not yet discovered. Ministers are endeavoring to ascertain who has thus either betrayed their confidence or surprised the Cabinet secrets. The Royal Commission on Local Industries have sent in an interim recommendation. They report that they have ascertained that wines of good quality are produced in various parts of tho colony, but as there are no provisions by law for retailing colonial wines, except by public-house licences, the trade is practically suppressed. Tho Commission are of opinion that the sale ought to bo encouraged, on the ground of affording remunerative occupation in a new branch of agriculture, and for the purpose of supplying a cheap and wholesome beverage. Ttiey therefore recommend that special facilities bo provided in the Licensing Bill now before Parliament for the sale of New Zealand wines by retail, for consumption on the premises. The arrears of land, tax are being collected in a very curious manner. To-day a Wellington landowner went to the Custom-house to pay the tax, but the money was refused, and ho was told that his name was on a list of defaulters to bo summoned. Ho had received no summons however, but on going to the Court-house was presented with one attached to the claim for tho land tax, but not signed by anybody, and not fully filled up. For this unsigned and unssrved summons he was charged ss, and Is for having to 1 call at the office.