PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2322, 13 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] WELLINGTON, September 12. The Premier this afternoon made a Ministerial statement as to the business which the Government proposed to go on with. Some surprise was felt that several prominent measures were not alluded to at all. Among these are the Property Assessment Amendment, Property Tax, Customs Tariff, Succession Duties, and Stamp Act Amendment, the above embodying financial policy of Ministers as set forth in budget speech. It is generally understood, however, that Government will probably not proceed with first named Bill (Property Assessment Amendment) as that it is likely to produce a prolonged debate, and may be a peg on which to hang an adverse mction by Mr Ormond, whose bitter opposition of the Property Tax is notorious. I believe that Ministers havo not yet decided what they will do about these money bills, and that their decision will depend Tery much on the events of the next few days. It is rumored, however, that this Bill (rendering foreign capital liable to the Property Tax) may be [dropped, and that the Property Tax Bill, which must be passed to authorise the collection of the tax during the current year will propose to levy the whole penny ua last year, instead of three farthings, as indicated in the budget, so aa to make up for the loss of revenue accruing through the abandonment of the Property Assessment Amendment. This is not "official," but is nevertheless on apparently good authority, The Succession Duties and Stamp Amendment may get through the Lower House, but their fate in the Council is doubtful.

Members generally profess to bo sanguine as to finishing the business by Monday or Tuesday next. It is not easy to see how this can be done when it is remembered that the estimates have hardly been touched yet, and that so large a number of debatable and yet necessary measures still remain to be dealt with. I still incline to think that all next week at any rate will be occupied. I hear that in voting the estimates, Mr Bryce's amendment to reduce the aggregate by £30,000 will be accepted. If carried it will plainly be of great assistance to Ministers in oarrying out further retrenchment by strengthening their hands in this under- ' aking. The " Hawke's Bay Herald " states that the Government has admitted a small portion of the Brogden claim, end passed vouchers authorising payment with interest, at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, since 1876. It is added that Messrs Brogden, relying upon this as an admission, will prosecute all their other claims. This needs some explanation, and I understand that the facts are these— Mr Oliver's last letter to Messrs Brogden practically denies any liability on tbp pirt of the Government, this being the same ground as was taken up in 1877, bet in February, 1879, the Government mads up a statement without specifying particulars, which showed £SBB due to Messrs Brogden, and £llO as interest at 10 per cent. Within the last few days the G-jvernmsnt have agreed to pay £l6O as duo to Messrs Brogdes and £B6 as interest, the principle sum having been kept back as penalties on one of the Southern contracts, which are now admitted to have been wrongly withheld ; but it will be seen that this involves no admiseion as regards the large claims made by the firm. These, I hear, will still be stoutly contested.