PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 June 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

• HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATIVE&

FBIDAX JUNE 26. The Hon the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. THE ETKAJrCIAL: DEBS _B*~Mr Pinkerton resumed the debate on this question. He expressed his concurrance in the proposals contained in the statement. .-■•-.___, 1 Messrs Kelly and Mackintosh both spoke in favour >of ; the ■ Government. ! In the evening sitting, Mr Bees continued the debate, also in favour of the Government and was severe on all those who misused political power to become monopolists of the land. Mr T. McKenzie stated it had been said that the property tax was the chief plank of the last election, but he averred that the people were in such a state of excitement about Unionism that they did not care one jot about the pi'OJferty tax. He opposed th. income t&x On* the 'ground of its being tfi_e<jual, and said that wherever it Vfte jpraeticed it had proved to be an abomination. . The sentiment of the Statement was good but sentiment would not carry on the business of ihe country, and they nhlst remember the political' history of the P.eitiW, ftnd consider his proposals with a good deal of caution. The Premier, when he; formerly came into office, was going 1 to do away with the property taxv-J&ufc three years of office left the Colony in a much worse state than before, and then they proposed to increase the property tax to a greater extent than ever was dreamed of by the so called Tory party > and that wae what would happen in the present case. He expressed his belief that the Govern ment would not get .-thgrfgpue they estimaMd^(^m^;il^^^P». and the gmduate§«^p^: wbulcl fail to reach t .^.gr#t owners who ought forpa^th&i* slhare of taxation. The Goyerri&Bn. 5 ; bad announced their intention to redtwe the taxation of the working classes, but he saw no indication of that in the policy before them. They were also going to give settlers work near their homes, but unless there was a person with means on a large tract of country in the district it was not a bit of good forming these village settlements. The great point was that they were going to reach absentees, but he produced the list of absentees, and said that No 2 owned property to the value of £86,000 and 82,000 sheep. Under the old tax he « would pay £204 per annum; under the new tax he would pay £191. Another case was" tbat of a man owning 10,878 acres, valued at £11,962, and under the old tax be would pay £67 18s, and under the new £41. Large estates were an evil, but those who held them had conformed faithfully to the laws of the country, and fulfilled faithfully and well the conditions' attatehed to settlement. ,But these large estate holders should be notified that during their life, they should have a right to enjoy them, but they should not have the power to will the whole of that property to one individual. That would produce the desired result without expense, and without throwing the country into disorder. The change in the incidence of taxation was a change for the worse ; it went throughput to aid capital, and there was not a single item which gave any concession whatever to the poor farmer. To raise sufficient revenue ihey must fall back on the Customs, .which would still more inorease the already heavy burden of the industrial classses. In conclusion he said the Government should give up talking so much about capital, and go in for real practical legislation. Mr Hogg followed and when, he had finished the House f r_)se a}i 1.20. — »__^-— _—^— i t