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PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 17. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. PETITIONS. Further petitions were presented by the Hon. Mr. Fox in favor of the Local Option Bill, and one in favor of restricting Sunday traffic. Several other petitions were presented, NOTICES OP MOTION, &C. Mr. SHEEHAN gave notice that he would move for a committee to enquire into the Government land purchases in the Hawke's Bay district. Other notices of motion and question were given. Sir GEORGE GREY requested the Speaker to have furnished from Hansard a copy of the speech delivered by the Premier in which he challenged him (Sir George Grey) to go outside the House and make the charges he had on previous occasions made. . The SPEAKER said he would take care that the request was complied with. QUESTIONS. ..." In answer to Mr. J. E. Brown, as to whether steps had been taken to obtain from the principal owners of land the right of way for the proposed fifteen miles of extension of the railway north from Amberley, and also as to any decision regarding the exact terminus,-the Hon. Mr. Okhond said, he could not give the information required, because it had not "been determined what exact route the line of railway should take. In reply to Mr. Barff, the Hon. Mr. BoWEN said there, had been no memorial as to misconduct on the' part of ' the Resident Magistrate at Okarito. A little had been said as to delay in his decision on one occasion, but nothing - further had been heard of the matter.

Mr.- BARFF having asked for copies of correspondence relative to the removal of the Postmaster at Gillespie's Beach, Westland, the Hon. G. McLean said there-would be no objection. Mr. LARNACH asked,—(l.) Whether it is the intention of the Government, during this session, to introduce a measure rendering it compulsory upon leaseholders and freeholders in the colony to exterminate rabbits upon their holdings ; and whether the Government lands will be made to bear their fair share of such responsibility. (2.) If there is no intention of introducing such, a measure, by itself, whether the Government would agree to incorporate the necessary clauses in the Sheep and Cattle Bill to enable the question to be satisfactorily dealt with.—The Hon. D. Keid said the Go. vernment recognised the magnitude of the evil, but it was a difficult question to deal with, and the Government could not bring in a Bill for the purpose. If, however, the hon. gentleman could suggest some other course Government would give it consideration. As to the second question, the course suggested would be exceedingly inconvenient, and could not be entertained. In answer to Mr. Sheehan, the Hon. Mr. Whitakek said it was proposed to bring in a measure dealing with Maori representation and the representation all over the colony next session, when, a census having been taken, a general readjustment would be made, the Maori representation to be in proportion to population. Several questions were put relative to exclusively local questions in different parts of the colony. JIB. BASTON'3 PKTITrON. Mr. TEAVERS asked the Government,— "What course they intend to pursue, or recommend to this House, with respect to the petition of Mr. G. E. Barton, presented to this House on Tuesday last ? He found by the Supreme Court Judges Act that the Judges were removable by the Governor upon an address presented from both Houses of Parliament. He was not aware that any petition of a similar kind to this had been presented to the Legislative Council, or what would be the proper course to pursue in reference to a petition of the kind, which, so far as he knew, was without precedent. Therefore he thought it desirable that the House should know how the Government intended to deal with the question, inasmuch as it affected the position of gentlemen who held .their offices subject only to removal in the manner indicated by this Act. He knew of no precedent in the Australian colonies, exeept the case of Judge Boothby, in South Australia, in which case the Government introduced a Bill into the House for the removal of that gentleman from the. Bench. The present case was a matter of such grave importance that it was desirable to know what course the Government proposed to take in reference to it. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER said he had taken great pains to ascertain what was the proper course to pursue in reference to the petition when it was presented, and had ascertained that the proper course was to remit it to the Public Petitions Committee. He had asked the opinion of the Speaker on the subject, who concurred with him. The petition had therefore been relegated to that committee, and so soon as they reported he should be happy to tell the hon. gentleman what course the Government intended to pursue in regard to the matter. Bins. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—By M>-. Sheebun, the City of Auckland Loans Consolidation Bill and the Auckland City Endowments Reserves Bill, TAXATIQN'. The adjourned debate on the amendment of Mr. Woolcock—to the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply—viz., that the time has arrived when a change in the incidence of taxation of the colony is necessary, then came on far discussion as the first order of the day. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN, having -remarked! on the interests involved in any changes in' the incidence of taxation, and that the Government fully recognised that the time had arrived when the whole question should be considered, said they would consider the subject with a view to the preparation of proposals next session. He moved as an amendment, —That, in the opinion of this House, the incidence of taxation should be so decided as to impose on property a fair share of the burdens entailed on the colony by the expenditure" on public works, and thereby cflord means for the reduction of the taxes on necessaries, and that the financial proposals of the Government should embody this principle. The alteration, if it was made,' would not lay a burden on a few classes, as was expected. It would readjust the financial position on asounder

basis, and give an opportunity of ascertaining upon what articles indirect taxation should press most heavily. He then' referred to the different 1 articles from which. , through the tariff revenue was derived, contending that certain necessaries of, life might, with benefit to the country, under the system proposed, he relieved from taxation. Another reason for reconsidering the policy was the advisability of dividing the taxation Into two classes —direct and indirect ; at the same time there should be such a direct taxation as would enable people to xmderstand what they had to bear; and it was likewise advisable ;to relieve trade." With" regard to the tax on wines,, spirits, and tobacco, he hoped to_ Bee the consumption of these articles lessened. After dwelling on the magnitude of the question which had been raised, and the necessity of giving it the most careful thought and attention, the hon. gentleman concluded by hoping that the House would refrain from entering at present into the question of considering the redistribution of the burden of taxation. He then moved the amendment. The SPEAKEK ruled that the amendment could not be accepted, as there was another amendment before the House.

The Hon. Major ATKINSON, to put the Government in order, said they would accept the amendment of Mr. Woolcock, which thereby became the substantive motion. Mr. MANDERS hoped that Mr. Woolcock would press his motion... "■ The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS said he had for years advocated a property tax, and he hoped the House would adopt the resolution. In supporting a property tax, however, he did not think that it would enable a reduction in the tariff to be made.. The Government had been far too extravagant in the past, and the " time had come when extra prudence wa3 necessary. The other day he had noticed a request for £SOOO for libraries, and there were other small amounts of the kind brought before the House. If, howeyer, they would have these luxuries they must pay for them by accepting -extra taxation. The colony could bear any burden put upon it for legitimate public works, but there were many items of expenditure which could be dispensed with. Mr. BUNNY submitted that it was impossible to bring down a proposal this year to m'eet the case. He was willing to give the Ministry time to consider the question ; but there was no doubt that the time would come when theincidence of taxation must be changed, and what he maintained was, that the middle class should be relieved, and the burden of taxation placed upon shoulders better able to bear it. He advocated a property and incometax, and not that the revenue should be derived to such a large extent through the Customs. As to the income-tax, he saw no reason why a man should bo taxed because he made £SOOO a year out of land, whilst the man who made £SOOO oat of shares should go scot free. The whole revenue of the colony should be placed in one purse, out of which the requirements of the country.should be met. Mr. TRAVERS regretted that the House had not heard more from the Colonial Treasurer on this matter. The Government appeared to think the time had arrived for a change in the incidence of taxation ; but they Bhould have introduced the subject when they brought down the statement of their financial policy during the early part of the session. He should be glad to see taxation reduced to a minimum a 3 it affected the poorer elass,_yet it was necessary to continue to include in the tariff articles of general consumption, such as sugar, &c, by which the cost of Customs collection would be reduced. But the poor were eutitled to be relieved of taxation to an extent compatible with the necessities of the State. The land fund in the different provincial districts should be colonial revenue, and no regard for political support should cause the Government to neglect this question. It was essential in regard to the Public Works pDlicy that the Government should be in possession of the whole of the revenue. In conclusion, he would oppose additional taxation simply to increase the revenue. Mr. GIBBS agreed that it would not be well be rush into.this prematurely, as they would, he contended, be doing if they attempted to make a change in the incidence of taxation this session. He hoped they would consider the matter carefully during the reces3, and bring down proposals next session. Mr. SUTTON supported the amendment of the member for the Grey. Mr. LUMSDEN said whatever taxation

was imposed it should interfere as little as -possible with colonial industry. He pointed out that the incidence of taxation was being altered yearly, the Counties Act of la3t session being an evidence of the fact, as it gave additional powers in the direction of levying rates. He did not agree that the House should at once change the whole of its fiscal policy. Mr. Fishek and Sir Robert Douglas having spoken, when Mr. Woolcock's amendment was about to be put Sir Geobge Grey moved as an amendment the motion concerning the alteration in the incidence of taxation of which he had previously given notice. He said it was with great satisfaction he had 1 at List an opportunity of addressing the House on the most important question that could be brought before it. The country had been misled by the Financial Statement, which had not properly disclosed the fact that within eighteen months it would be necessary to borrow £5,000,000. When a country was as largely in debt as New Zealand, the fact of having to go into the market to borrow more ' should make them most careful in their financial arrangements. Instead of this, last session the Premier had termed every proposal for a revision of taxation a joke, and this session, when their own supporters turned againat them, the Ministry through the Hon. Mr. Bowen, chaunted out in tremulous tones that they would do something next year. At present the Ministry conducted the finances of the colony in a thimblerigging style. They had -three accounts, like the traditional three peas. When asked a question they lifted a thimble and showed one pea where it ; was least expected. A plain statement of the finance of the colony should be given, but that could never be got. The Government should consider prospective finance, and should have- considered it. Had they done so, they would never have had to bring in a Native Lands Court Bill to kick it out again. They would have brought down a clear and comprehensive statement, involving a land tax, which would have placed New Zealand above all hur difficulties. The land now held by speculators in enormous quantities escaped all taxation, whilst the small properties were every day • paying increased ' rates on account of their improvements. Sir George Grey attacked the alleged Hawke's Bay land transaction of . Messrs. Russell and Ormond at some length, but was called to order by the Speaker. He continued to say that the proper system of taxation would be not to continue the annual charge for the sinking fund, by which a large saving might be effected without inflicting any injustice on the debenture-holders. Then as to the taxation on necessaries of life, such as sugar was in the case of children, on tea and other matters there would be a great saving to the consumer, amounting to over £400,000 ' a year. Such a saving could be effected within a month, and this should be done, instead of waiting for the fulfilment of delusive promises made by Government for next year. It would not , do to , wait, for if they did they would be deceived. They had Government now in their hands —they had enough members to carry "his (Sir George Grey's) 'proposals, and the' Government should be squeezed. They ought also to carry at once into effect a property tax which would fall on all alike—the poor man for his cottage, and the rich man, for his estate. This would save the country from . the great danger of an aristocracy with large tracts of land. The Ministry should at once retire into Cabinet and bring down a Bill (which they could do in an hour or two), to give "effect to the speaker's proposals. He also would propose a great reduction in official expenditure, much larger than that carried 'but by the Ministry. Next the land fund, which must to a certain extent be localised in cases of thickly populated districts, could however be made to contribute more largely to the national revenue. The native lands too might bo sold under some system of auction by which the Maori would get full

value for his property, and thesmall settler could still get what he required, whilst a percentage could be taken to contribute to the revenue, He proceeded to say that he would take the duty off several articles in connection with grocery and clothing, which would relieve the whole of the laboring population from taxes which they should not be called upon to pay. He did not propose to touch the revenue of £OO,OOO derived from . taxation on such luxuries as wines and spirits, because he believed that people who indulged in such luxuries should be made to pay for them. He would hot place the land fund in one common purse, because he thought local 'government should have the disbursement of it. .Referring again to the laud taxation,' he should propose an acreage tax, and that the poor man should payhis quota towards the revenue in this direction, and by this means they would do much to reduce the pauper element. By carrying out such plans as he had proposed they would train up a race of freemen. All the population, both European and native, would be largely benefited, and by holding out advantages to all classes of the community, the poorer people included, settlement would be advanced. Such a plan could be brought down.and laid before the House in half-an-hour. Mr. MAC ANDREW seconded the motion, and complimented the speaker on his excellent speech. He hoped the Government would accept the motion, not treat it as a party question. For once (though he was an advocate of party) he would say, let them throw party to the winds. Even' the Premier agreed to the proposal. But if the thing was good let them accept it at once. He did not say he agreed with all the details of the proposal as to the per-centage of land sales to be devoted to the land fund. He would prefer an acreage tax. But he did not propose to enter into details, and cordially approved of the general principles of the plan proposed. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said he had listened to the speech of the hon. member for the Thames with mixed feelings of regret, surprise, and satisfaction. He regretted that the hon. gentleman should again impute to the Government dishonorable motives in bringing . forth their Financial Statement. The lion, gentleman accused the Government deliberately of deceiving the public creditor and the House. He was surprised at what fell from an hon. gentleman of such experience, that he should tell the House he could retire into that room (pointing to the Government chamber), talk for half-an-hour, and return to the House with a complete scheme for altering the financial policy of the colony. Sir GEORGE GREY : I could produce it to-night. The Hon. Major ATKINSON : Then if the ion. gentleman could do that he was the man for the country. A Voice : Yes ; but the country won't have lim. . . .

The Hoa. Major ATKINSON continued to remark that what he was about to say was this, that he was gratified the hon. gentleman had at last come out as the leader of the Opposition with a distinct policy, and a policy In regard to which the House would judge between him and the Government. In half an hour the hon. gentleman said he could bring down a Bill to change the incidence of the taxation of the colony. If that was a fact it was to be hoped the House would support him, and he could then take longer than half-an-hour—he could have three days to prepare his scheme, and bring it down on Tuesday. The Government distinctly challenged that gentleman to appeal to the House on the question. Let them como to a decision that night by all means. He now proposed to examine, so far as he could, the proposals of the hon. gentleman. He had listened very carefully with a view of ascertaining what his proposals exactly were. But he feared that in some respects he had failed to catch what his meaning was. Therefore, as it was his object to confute the arguments, the hon. gentleman would correct him if he should misrepresent him. He said that the whole burden of taxation at the present time fell upon the working classes of the community, and that they were called upon to pay for public woife which had been executed for the benefit of the richer portion of the community. Now, he (Major Atkinson) would just glance at the present taxation, with a view of seeing how the taxation is.borne at the present time, and he believed that when members came to examine into the matter they would see that the hon. gentleman had no foundation whatever for that statement. The amount raised by the Customs was to the extent of £1,200,000. Of this £600,000 is raised on spirits, tobacco, wine, and what may be termed luxuries; and deeming as he did that tea, sugar, and such like articles were necessaries of life, they might assume that the other £600,000 was raised on the last mentioned class of articles, although they might take £IOO,OOO of that in the way of duties paid on extra articles of dress. . Now, the total amount of interest . and sinking fund would be £1,100,000, £600,000 of which it might be said was raised on luxuries, which were simply voluntary contributions. £170,000 would be obtained from profit on .railways, and £360,000 as a charge on and paid out of the land fund. So that the whole of the interest and sinking fund on the public debt was paid by the land fund, by the tax on luxuries, and by the aid of the railways. -Not only did the total amount raised pay for the interest on the public debt, but left it £700,000 (in round numbers) for ordinary purposes. He then proceeded to say that he thought it would be wise at as early a date as possible to introduce

ome direct taxation, not directly for the relief he working classes, because he had shown hat they were not unduly charged. He had h«wn the year before last that the working nan could not by any possible chance pay nore than 16s. or 17s. per head per family, and le now repeated that, and the hon gentleman vas not ablejto refute that statement. Now, vith regard to the scheme of the hon. gentlenaD, he proposed to reduce the duties >y the amount of £360,000, and the sxpenditure by £100,000; but he did not ;ell the House how he proposed to do it. Efad he undertaken to criticise, he might have lone so fairly ; but he came down with a icheme for the acceptance of the House, and le should have explained how he proposed to :arry out the proposals in it. The hon. gen;leman proposed to effect a saving by getting -id of some of the officials in the Audit and_ treasury Departments; but as there were only some fourteen clerks in the Audit Department, and about seventeen in the Treasury, the dis- ' charging of four or five clerks would not go very far towards his saving of £IOO,OOO. The Premier then referred to Sir George Grey's proposal in reference to the land fund, to show that if it were carried out there would be a deficiency of £350,000, which he remarked did not look very hopeful for the hon. gentleman's scheme. With regard to the sinking fund the hon. gentleman had betrayed amusing ignorance. The matter did not rest with the Government but with the ureditors of the colony. There were many differences of opinion regarding the question. He himself was of opinion that it was a bad system. The hon. gentleman had introduced no new idea. The Government havingTentertained that idea, had worked to secure it for years, and it was with that view they had got the Inscription of Stock Bill passed. He could not follow the hon. gentleman's idea of raising his income. He proposed to raise £400,000 ; but he had not shown the House clearly how he was going to accomplish it. He (Major Atkinson) had now, he thought, touched upon all the points he had noticed in the hon. gentleman's speech. Ho challenged him again to let the House decide between them on the question at issue. Tha Government did not believo a change in the incidence of taxation could be mado this year. They had put distinctly in the form of a resolution their opiuions as to what ought to bo done. The Government needed no excuse for not having submitted such a scheme this sessiop. Thfly had had ample work to do in attending to matters connected with tho great constitutional changes that had taken place. Their financial policy had been careful and farseeing. He said distinctly that everything he had undc-rtaken last year in regard to public expenditure had been carefully carried out, and he challenged tho hon. gentleman to show one

statement he made then which had not been faithfully fulfilled.

Mr. MONTGOMERY was uot sorry thai at last they were face to face with the great question which had been looming: on them foi the past two years. Whether the policy before them were right or wrong, it was one that would ring throughout the length and breadth of-the laud. He denied that the financial policy of the Government had been far-seeing ; it had been delusive, not intentionally delusive, but none the less so. The balance with which they commenced the year was fictitious. The colony was living upon Treasury bills, and the proposals for the future, he would show, were founded upon calculations largely in error. He undertook to prove that the large savings for which the Colonial Treasurer took credit to himself did not. in reajity exist. He then referred to. the revenue. They had issued since the beginuingof last'year£26o,ooo, and advanced £53,000 to the provinces, which had been put down as assets. How had the Hon. Treasurer got so much money down i for assets? In this way: he had issued Treasury bills against the land fund for. money from the land which had not, and never would, come in. There was £360,000 bauk overdraft, which he would venture to say was for departmental expenses. . There had been no means provided for taking up the Treasury bills. ' Last year when he criticised' the Premier's finances members had said that he took a gloomy view of New Zealand. He did not take a gloomy view of the resources of the colony, because he believed they were very great; but he did not approve of the system of finance adopted by the Hon. Treasurer. He then quoted from the speech of the member for Timaru, who stated that the finance of the Hon. Treasurer was an absolute sham. Why did not the hon. member for Timaru attempt to arrest that miserable sham which he so strongly denounced in the Treasurer. He (the speaker) did not call the financial scheme of the Treasurer a sham, but he thought so. Two years ago he stated that they should tax property, which had benefited by railways and immigration. It was well known that all property increased in value when railways passed through it. Quoting from the Financial Statement, he said lie could easily reconcile the fact that the hon. gentleman required rest. The Hon! Treasurer talked of rest, when he should be endeavoring to lighten the . burden of taxation. It | was.not statesmanlike to say that he wanted rest, when there wac such important work before the House. It was not the proper language for the Treasurer of this colony. He trusted that however much they might differ in the scheme proposed by the hon. member for the Thames, his principles were sound, aud that they would agree with them at once. Mr. STOUT considered that the Government were placed in an unhappy state, as was evident by their haviug no one to respond to the criticisms of Mr. Montgomery. He proceeded to criticise the position of Ministers in consequence of their actiou over the Native Lands Bill. So much weakness had never been displayed by any Ministry that ever sat in any colony. And now the same shuffle was resorted So over a great financial question as was adopted over the Native Lands Bill. This was an abandonment of the position they took up last year and the present on the question of finance. This conduct showed that they did not recognise the responsibility of a Ministry at all, but merely looked upon themselves as a committee to carry out the wishes of the House, and to draw their salaries. He did not see why, if Government had changed their views as to the incidence of taxation, they should have to wait for twelve months in order to embody these resolutions in a practical measure. Mr. Stout criticised the items in the Financial Statement and the tables appended thereto, and said that the Colonial Treasurer had been out in his estimates nearly £120,000. He pointed out that in 1870 Sir Julius Vogel had predicted that direct taxation must come within three years, and the Ministry now only began to think of it. It was staved off by the plots indicated by the proposal of 1874 to seize the provincial revenue in order to save the falling general income. This kind of thing, had it occurred in private business, would have entailed a charge of dishonesty. As to the present proposals of the Ministry, Mr. Stout contended that the Colonial Treasurer had absolutely stated, whilst promising a property tax, it would not bring in anything appreciable. The fact was that the Colonial Treasurer was forced by the counting of noses to bring down proposals adverse to his avowed policy, and then, in introducing his proposals, he absolutely argued against them. The Ministry, in fact, had no idea of the future. They were, like a ship'without a rudder in a sea, drifting anywhere. Their policy would have a pernicious effect when the people found that for a mere monetary consideration all their privileges would be swept away. Mr. Stout did not know if it was any use in speaking. Last year the Ministry had only to say "abolition is in danger," to secure a majority, and this year the cry was " property is in danger." He warned the holders of property, however, to take example by Victoria, where the day on which it should bear its just burdens to the State had been put off so long that at last the cry that rose against it proved irresistible in force.

The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS thought Government would best meet the views of the House and the country by introducing a short Bill to impose a property tax this session. The tax need not come into operation for six or nine months. For seven or.eight years past he had pronounced in favor of a property tax, and could not now vote against any proposal brought forward for the imposition of one. Mr. HARPER pointed out that in the Finaucial Statement of the Treasurer it had been shown that the' question of a property tax would have sooner or later to bo con-, sidered. A time had arrived when the question deserved consideration, but that should not induce to such hasty legislation as that advocated by Sir George Grey. The whole question required consideration. A property tax would prevent the introduction of capital into the colony, and so long as there was a land fund it was fair to argue whether there was any necessity for a property tax. Mr. PYKE denied that this was a question which had never been brought before the couutry before. It had been discussed on the hustings nn general elections for the last ten years, and he did not hesitate to state that I three-fourths of the members of the House i were pledged to a revision of taxation, tho ; system at present being most unjust. Property holders did not contribute to the revenue of the country in proportion to the benefit they derived. He could not be ac-j cused of factious opposition to the present Go-1 vernment, whom he had supported always when they were right, and sometimes when they were wrong. (Laughter.) The taxation system at present neither meant protection nor free trade : it was a bastard system. He had always been an opponent of Customs, duties as a means of raising revenue. The; people not only paid the Customs duties, but a profit upon those duties, and this fell! chiefly upon the working classes. That,j therefore, the increase of taxation must be altered must be apparent to every sensible thinking man in the community. Referring to the speech of the hon. member for Wairarapa as to the generalization of the land revenue, he remarked that certain provinces had acted the spenthrift heir, and the two Northern provinces wished to grasp the land fund of the South, which they never would dp while he had a vote in that Hoiise.

Mr. REES, in speaking' to the question,. first replied to the statement of the Premier in reference to the Inscription of Stocks Bill, and quoted Hansard to show that he (Mr. Kees) had suggested the idea of getting rid of the Sinking Eund, which the Premier had then laughed at; that he had suggested a property tax and income tax, and that he had proved a prophet as to what had taken place this session—that what he had suggested in relation to the Treasury bills was absolutely correct, which had been corroborated by the member for Akaroa that evening. He then spoke at some length with a view of sustaining his calculations as to the financial position of the colony and showing that tho Premier was entirely ignorant of figures. Mr. Ueea quoted many figures in support of his argument. Dr. HODGKINSON concurred in the opinion expressed by the hon. member for the

; Thames, and said there was nothing,: he believed, even partaking of the character of sincerity in the motion put forward by |the Ministry, who were not fit to occupy :the position, they did. He characterised the supporters of the Government as degraded. . Mr 1 HUNTER said he did not rise to make any observations on the speech, of the last ■ speaker,'whose remarks: regarding the Ministry and their supporters were- quite unworthy of notice, but he wished to say a-few words in reply to Mr. Rees, who, had-i stated that jnbt one of the Government supporters was bold enough to say he believed in the accuracy of the Financial Statement :.of > the Colonial Treasurer. It was a habit'with .that hon. gentleman to attack the Ministry on this, point, declaring that the public accounts were erroneous.. The ' reason, for: this was that the hon. gentleman: himself was .totally ignorant of finance, and positively, did not understand the accounts before him, simple as they were to persons acquainted with book-keeping. He did not blame the hon. gentleman for this. There were persons so constituted as toi be incapable of understanding any'accounts, and that of course was rather their misfortune than their fault. He believed this mental deficiency was peculiar to the profession to which Mr. Rees belonged, and .perhaps that gentleman was so afflicted. Why, the statement of the Colonial Treasurer was as clear as. possible—a simple matter of addition., He then referred to several items in the address of Mr. Rees, who said the balance in the statement was not a real balance, and told the House that the £550,00.0 guaranteed debentures were a liability. He (Mr. Hunter) pointed out the fallacy of such statements, and he referred also to the figures quoted by the" member for Akaroa, to show, in one instance at

least, and he believed many more, that the hon. member had ohargedthe country with liabilities which did not exist. The Colonial Treasurer had made an accurate statement of the financial position of the colony up to the 30th of June of the present year. • Referring to the question of taxation, discussion on which had occupied the time of the House during the evening, he pointed out that the working men were not so ill-used as certain speakers made it appear. If the position of property-holders had been improved, so had the coudition of the working men, who were getting better wages, now than they were years ago, when' they were taxed for necessary articles just as they were at the present time. He believed that property should be made to bear a fair share of the burden ; but he thought . the revenue ; should be locally administered. He objected to an acreage,tax, which, in consideration of the difference in the value of land, was calculated to operate most unfairly. In conclusion, he stated that he had risen 1 on this occasion not that hehad contemplated delivering ah address, but he thought it desirable that a refutation of certain incorrect statements affecting the financial position of the colony should be placed on record. ' '; At this stage the debate was adjourned till Tuesday. The House adjourned at 12.20 o'clock.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18770818.2.14

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5118, 18 August 1877, Page 2

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Tapeke kupu
6,028

PARLIAMENT. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5118, 18 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5118, 18 August 1877, Page 2

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