POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1305, 12 June 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(from our own correspondent.)

Wellington June 11,

Major AtMnson will propose a modification in the Property Assessment Act, with the object of removing the dissatisfaction as to the inquisitorial character of the measure: Tax-payers will not be required to state their property in detail, but the schedule will contain only two headings—real estate and personal—under which the valuation will be shown in a lump sum. The tax-payer will first show the value of his real estate, including land and houses free of all debt and mortgages, and under the second head he will show the value of his personality, excluding furniture and personal effects, but including all mortgages due to him, money at interest or call, debts due to him, bills of sale and other securities, &c. After deducting from this the LSOO exemption, he will be taxed on the balance, This is the alteration which the Colonial Treasurer referred to. to-day as in contemplation. My information is thoroughly reliable. ! June 12.

A great part of the savings alleged to have been effected in the Native Departmentare mere jugglery—shifting payments from one account to another, and are not savings at all. All the Native liands Court estimates, amounting to nearly LIO,OOO, have been moved to the Justice Department, and many other alleged reductions are special votes of last year, which it is not necessary to renew. The only real savings are in the pensions and payments of assessors and a few subordinate officials, and reductions amongst the clerks who received smaller salaries.

Mr. Colenso, who received LllOO instead of L7OO agreed on for preparing a Maori lexicon, and who only oorqpleted a small portion of the work, now has the impudence tq demand a further payment or the return of the manuscript. A specimen page laid on the table yesterday shows that at the rate he has worked two or three generations would be required to complete-the lexicon. There is a growing feeling of dissatisfaction at ths paltriness of the departmental reductions proposed by the Government, and the feeling is strengthened by the unjust mode in which the Government propose to effect their promised reduction *of L5Q,000._ Nearly all the higher salaries, amounting to L6QO, L7OO, LBOO, L9OQ, and LIOOO remain untouched, while L 25 is to be deducted here and LlO there from the salaries of under-clorks and others ranging from LIOO up to LSOO. This gives great dissatisfaction, as it is felt that the reductions should be progressive, those receiving the higher salaries being subject to larger reductions than those in receipt of small pay. It is quite possible that the Opposition will themselves take the matter in hand,

(from an occasional correspondent.) Wellington, June 11.

The Government have determined to adhere to their financial proposals. The proposed Board of Works'is considered to be a retention, of the central system of providing looal works, while Parliament divests itself of the control over the appropriations. Members say that if there is a Ministerial member of the Board the others will be no more than cyphers, and it will be necessary for them to toady him ; if they are nonentities the Minister will simply distribute the available funds among his supporters. Sir George Grey's party are rallying fast, and are urging him to resume the lead in view of the consolidation of the Liberal party for the next election. Majop Atkinson's conversion of one million of Treasury Bills into permanent debt cripples the public works fund_ and will necessitate the stoppage of all railway and other important works. The Opposition contend that the immense departmental expenditure should have been cut down ruthlessly ; that it is nonsense to merely prune L 50,000 where the salaries amount to L 1,000,000 ; that the Government is pausing where they ought to roll up. Major Atkinson spoke strongly in support of the property tax, and agreed to the modification of exempting furniture and personal effects only on tbe ground that it is necessary to legislate for the prejudices, however foolish ? of the people. The modifteation will relieve the wealthy, while the manufacturer still has to pay on his tools and the baker on his flour.

Qamaru will lose heavily by the withdrawal of the subsidies. The only equivalent given is the half rate on Government property in the borough. The Opposition will probably resist all re-imposition of the costoms duties, and will urge the taxation of land and the decentralisation pf administration, with central legislation, and will advocate a re-adjustment upon a self reliant basis, and the reorganisation of all local bodies throughout the Colony.