HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 206, 28 September 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEL-i.lxe-f o?-, Friday. tn reply to Mr Wakefield, the Government said tfcat X50.050 was deducted from subsidies to local bodies for hospitals and 'charitable aid, under the authority of the Financial Arrangements Act. IS7G. The basis of division was shown in a return laid on the table. Mr Swanson's proposal tbat the debate on clause 4, of the Land Tax Bill, be reported iu Hansard was negatived. The Electoral Bill was read a third time, and passed without opposition. The House went into Committee on the Land Tax Bill, clause 3. Mr Whitaker proposed that the proceeds of the land tax aud laud sale* be created a separate fund, to be applied to meet the interest on loans and public works. New loans to be in tby an iucrease o£ land tax, also a general principal of valuation to be laid dowu by the House, and a general system of valuation to be undertaken by the Government. Mr Bowen did not wish to see improvements on small holdings exempted. In America a general property tax worked satisfactorily. Mr Saunders said thafc all lands in the Colony should he subject to the land tax, with no exemption. Mr Gisborne proposed that the land tax should he a penny, and that other reducsdould be made in proportion. Dr. Hodgkinson said small holders were better able to pay the land tax than the class next shown. Mr Woolcock proposed a sliding scale thus :— .£500 a : {d, £5000 to £10,000 a Jd, £10,000 to £20,000 ijd, above £20,000 a penny land tax. J Mr Carrington supported the amendment. Mr Ballance opposed it, because below a certain sum the tax would not pay the cost of collection. Major Atkinson approved of Mr Whitaker's proposals. Mr Bastings objected tc the amendment. Mr Wakefield said the Premier was bound to support the amendment. He quoted his speech of last year, saying that no classes should be exempted. The House desired last year that a general property and income tax should be imposed, and if the Government had done so four- fifths of the House would have supported them, including himself. This was the first introduction of class legislation. Saturday. At 7.30. the House resumed ou the Land Tax Bill iu Committee. A long discussion ensued on the exemption clause, those opposed to it wanting it struck out on the ground that its tendency was to place in the hands of the majority the power to tax the minority. The clause was ultimately passed as printed by 44 against 31. A long discussion took place on clause 4, and an amendment by Mr Wason was negatived by 41 to 12. Several clauses were postponed, but the greater number passed with slight verbal alterations. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 2.40. a.m.