PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1067, 1 August 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 81. In the Council to-day several local Bills were advanced a stage. The Criminals Executions Bill was read a third time. —The Otago Horbonr Board Eeconstitution Bill was introduced by Mr Whitaker, and read a first time.— In reply to Mr Peacock, Mr Whitaker said that the Government had decided for the present to prohibit the importation of all live stock into the colony. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Tuesday, July 31. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said that New Zealand blankets and flannels were largely used in gaols and industrial school iu the colony, and so was New Zealand coal. Telegraph forms conld not be printed in the colony at anything like the London price, as ascertained by the tenders. Government were favourable disposed to reduce the freight on linseed, the same as on other grain, but grass seeds were not included in the reduction. Government would quarantine all imported dogs for six months, as a safeguard against hydrophobia. PROPERTY TAX BILL. Major. Atkinson moved the second reading of this bill. Mr Montgomery spoke against it, arguing that a land tax was fairer than a property tax. Debate interruptedby the adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The Douse resumed at 7.30 p.m. Major Atkinson, who had been called on to reply just before the House rose, said that he was anxious not to take the House by surprise, and would give way if any member wished to speak. (Cries of no.) He regretted that the threatened debate on finance and taxation had collapsed, and thought it showed Mr Montgomery’s unfitness to lead even a section of the Opposition. Mr Dargaville ought, he thought, to feel ashamed of the speech he bad made. As to the charge made by Mr Dargaville against the Premier and himself in relation to the Loan Consolidation Act of 1867, he pointed out ’that he himself had voted steadily against the Bill. The Premier was not then in either House, and had nothing to do with the Act, and had received nothing for it The statements to the contrary were

absolutely nntiiii'. If Mr D would not tnnv' bn - a Select C" , nnjittep to inquire iu u tbe truth of tb" lions, he w<•«>!•! do it himself. The two clauses of tli- r.arul T-x Act wliidi :Vlr Dargaville hel quoted, and I' -sed his arguments of corrupt favouritism on, had long been repealed, and wuo not in force at all. They wore put in the original Act to attract foreign capital, and after lull consideration by tbe House, and when in operation, it was found (hoy were not required for that purpose. They were repealed, rn 1 the loan companies had to pay, as all others did. That disposed of all Mr Dargnville’s statements in which he had staked bis reputation for common sense. Had the local quarter of a million been floated, most of it would have been taken; up by the Post Office Savings Bank depositors, who would then have: got 5 per cent, instead of for their money. Had not the million loan been raised there would have been nothing to carry on with. On the 31st March he knew of no means of getting better banking arrangements than at present, or he wonld adopt them. Ho . .would; never agree to hand over the colony to { the associated banks, as that wonld; make them the real governors of the* colony. The real safety lay in dealing with one bank, and being able to change it if necessary. He entirely disagreed i with Mr Montgomery’s figures, and did; not think the colony was paying more: than two and a half millions as interest outside the colony. The stocks of goods now in bond were unusually large, and there was no reason to believe that the Customs this year would fall off. The, revenue last year was not below the expenditure ; in fact, actually taxation had been relieved and charges borne by revenue instead of loan. The colony had never paid interest oht of borrowed money. He challenged Mr Montgomery to prove bis statement to this effect. Mr Montgomery said that he wonld prove it. Major Atkinson continued defending; the fairness of the Property Tax, as} prepared with a land tax .and income; tax. Oh a division, the Bill was read; a second time by 49 to 33. The Bill was ordered to be committed on Thursday. s