Taxing Land near Railways.

Patea Mail, 21 August 1882, Page 3

Taxing Land near Railways.

CONCESSION BY GOVERNMENT. (per united press association.) In the House cm Friday night, a protracted discussion took place in committee on the three million Loan Bill.

Major Atkinson said, before calling the first order of the day, he wished to explain that Government had considered the amendment to the Loan Bill proposed by Mr Shrimski, and had come to the conclusion that the clause was foreign to the objects of the Bill, and would tend to defeat the public interest. They would therefore ask the House not to consent to the introduction of the clause into the BillThe member for Motueka had tabled a motion which would raise the same, issue.

Mr Montgomery would Oppose the Loan proceeding until the point raised had been decided.

Mr Macandrew said that, unless erar bodied in the Loan Bill, the clause would be wholly inoperative.

The House divided on the motion for passing the orders of the day to allow Mr Hursthouse’s motion to be brought on ; ayes 45, noes 29. Mr Hursthouse then moved, That those districts through which Government railways ran should be charged with the difference between the working expenses (including interest on cost of construction) and receipts from such railways. Major Atkinson moved as an amendment, That the principle of special taxation of property increased in value by the expenditure of public money and the construction of railways, harbors, &c., is just that to give effect thereto is beset by many difficulties ; and that the same be referred to a select committee to consider and report upon the whole subject within one week ; said committee to consist of Sir Geo. Grey, Messrs J. E. Brown, Hursthouse, Macandrew, Shephard, Suttom and the mover. The House divided on Mr Hursthouse’s motion, which was lost by 38 to 22Major Atkinson’s amendment then became the substantive motion, when Mr Seddon moved the following amendment : That an address be presented to the Governor, asking him to introduce a measure to provide that where any railways are made through private or native lands, and where such land or lands adjacent are proved to be increased in value by the construction of such railways, the lands should be valued and classified before the railway is commenced, and thereafter that on the increased value given to such lands the owner shall pay per cent, of such increase to the Crown, or, as an alternative, shall pay 5 per cent, per annum on the. whole amount of increased value given by construction of railways to such lands; that, should the land owners refuse these terms, then the Crown be empowered to purchase such lands at the price at which they were valued prior to the construction of the railway being determined on ; the terms and conditions to be settled by arbitration. After further considerable discussion, Mr Seddon’a amendment was rejected by 32 to 21.

Mr Moss then moved as a fresh amendment that further consideration of the New Zealand Loan Bill be deferred until the committee reports, and the report is adopted.—This was rejected on a division by 30 to 21, Major Atkinson’s motion was then carried, Mr Soddon’s name being substituted for Sir George Grey’s, and a proposal to substitute Mr Sbrimski’s for Mr Sutton’s being lost. The House rose at 2-25 a.m.