GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 625, 28 September 1878, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PRESS AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wj&linsxon, September 27. In reply to Mr Wakefield, the Government said that £50,000 wap deducted from subsidies to local bodies for hosplfob and charitable aid,'..under, authority the Financial Arrangements Act, “ The basis of division was shown in laid on the tabl^rJ Mr Swanspn. prpxK>ted : ,that *tho'd4bate on the Land Tax Bill in .reported in Harjsqrcl/but , the negatived. • \ t ' \ v,.vV'i The Electoral' Bill" wm read third time, and passed without opposition. The House went into Committee'on the Land Tax BilL ’•’• •• ; ■ On clause 3, Mr, Whitaker proposed-that the proceed Aoddihedand tax, and.land sales be created a v fund}- .to be appHed to meet the.ihterest bn loans and,,publi6 works, and that' nSw txaft cbargeshe met by an increase oPthe lafid'tax '; also .lhat a general .principle of valuation be ikid down by the House, landh general sysitSm of by the Govbthment. did.not wish tb’T^e exempted. He said that in . Ataerica.a' generalproperty tax worked satisfacfenly. ' IMDr Saunders said that -all lands inf; the .Colony sha^d 1 subject vfo a r land; tax with ho exemption. . . ' : -" Mr Gisboipo proposed'that the land tax should bd anengy, and the other red be%#£de ih proportion. Mr Hodgianson saidj the small holders were better able to paylthe land tax than the class next above/ Mr Woolcock proposed a sliding scale—■ thus land to the yalue £SOO/ af . rarthlhg.'j./ ' £SOO to £IOOO, a half-penny; £IO,OOO ; to £20,000, : three, ; above £20,000, a penny land tax. ' Mr Oamngtfcnsuppparted* the ‘;atflSndment, * Mr Ballanoe opposed ~it -because below a certain sum the taix hot ' pay the cost of collection;” -Major AtMaseß-apppoyed- Mr WKiiaker’s proposals. ~7’ Mr Bastings ijbbjec{fcdSto the amendment. ,• ,/•' . i Mr Wakefield said -the Premier was bound to support thd' amendment, and„ quoted from Ms speech lasf ■. that ho classes -should 'be bxempt„ The - House desired last,year that a .= and income tax should if the Govemmeht had done" so fourrfifths of the House would have supported ,them ; including .TTlds .was, he said, the. first IhtrSqUctlbn of claes legislation. /*'-//'/ .“77 September 28. 1 i At 7:30-last evening, The House resumed on the Land Tax ;, Bill, in Committee. A lo'ng discussion ensued upon the exemption clause, those opposed to it wanting it struck "out oh the ground that-it’s tendency yraa to place in the hands of the majority the power to tax the minority. The clause was ulti,mately passed, as printed, by 45 agaipst 31., A long discussion took place oh clause 4 ; and.an amendment by Mr Wasoh was negatived by 41 to 12. Several clauses, / were postponed, but the greater number ■ 1 were passed, with slight verbal alterations. - Progress waa.i»pdrtld, the House . adjourned-afc-2.'40. , , , , ; .7