PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1444, 2 September 1885, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF ÜBPKESENTATiVE& - •(pNlTBI) PURSS ASSOCIATION."; "'"' r Wkllinqton, Tuesday. - The House met at 2.30 p . m. ; ' ANSWDBS TO QUESTIONS. ReplyUg to questions, it was stated that there would be no difficulty m supplying Volunteers with ammunition at cost price.— A portion of the contract for the North Island Trunk railway had been offered to the Maoris, and it had been done m a very satisfactory manner.— A sum .was on the Estimates for clearing ' the Mokau S'tver. ;:-. :'•-, Xif-BlLlSi .. .:■- :■■•'■" Thsißton. MrKichardson moved the second reading of the Auckland Bailways Land Compensation Bill; Agreed rTThe Mortgage Debenture B;ll was further considered m Committee, was re- ; ported with amendments,. read a third time, and passed. ," ."<"•'.. Wednesday. .„. On the second reading of the Property Assessment Bill, Mr Sutter objected to the exemption of Native lands from taxation. '; •" .■■--■.•.•- ' ; . Mr Pyke contended that the Clauseexempting Maoris from taxation must . be struckout, or there would be iip justice m the Bill; \ Mr Btichanm considered the question of property versus land tax was raised m this Bill, and the former he favored as most just. Ho considered it an open question whether or hot the exeniption should not be reduced. He thought that Native property .was . unable to iinder- 1 stand the reason for the exeniption. He said supposing ». a farm worth £4000 ; was mor&aged for £2000, jt would pay no taxation, thus agricultural property was prabfcically exempt,. and we shou.d Imye the itp^ns crying out that the Country vras noit paying a fair share. In his district, forinstance, not half-a-dozen persons wouldpay taxes, and he trusted that the Premier would give the House estimates of the loss. He would not go into the question of property tax verms land tax, beyond saying that experience had shown that those who had advocated property tax were right. Major Atkinson said that m agreeing to the second reading, he did not agree ■with all the alterations m the Bill. He would assist the Government m reducing exemptions, as he held that it was advisable that as many as possible should contribute to general taxation. Dr Newman thought it objectionable to tax Life Insurance policies, and would not agree to increase the exemption for agricultural improvements. Colonel Trimble protested against the increase of exemptions. Captain Russell objected to consolidating such large principles as that m connection with exemption agriultnral : improvements. .' / The Premier, i» reply, said to taxNative Lands would be to .stop settles jnents, as Natives would not ihdi, vidualise. • • , ; Replying to Mr Rolleston, as. to what amount of agricultural and machinery exemptions would be lost, the Premiersaid that it would be impossible^to esti 'mate, as there; would be a considerable 'decrease, but taxable property of the. Colony would not be decreased because other things were brought under tax; The second reading was carried on the voices. The House rose at 1 a.m.