House of Representatives.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1113, 3 August 1882, Page 2

House of Representatives.

The House met at 2.30. Mr Bathgate resumed the debate on consideration of report of Committee of Trustees, 'Executors, and Agency Company* Bill. He objected to the shareholders of tho proposed Com. puny being allowed io reside oulaldtj

the Colony, as calculated to defeat the claims of clients of the Company. He concluded by moving that the report be referred back to tne Committee for furrher consideration. Mr Weston supported the amendment. Mr Levin objected to the report being referred back to Committee, alleging as Chairman of the Committee that it had delayed its functions. Major Atkinson thought that the powers might be conceded to the Company subject to a proviso that it deposit in the hands of the Government a sum of say £lO,OOO as a guarantee of good faith. Mr DeLautour supported the Bill, alleging that it would be impossible to provide for shareholders residing in the Colony. The House divided, ayes 44, noes 2. The report was agreed to. Replying to questions put, it was stated that Government was aware the road commenced at Grey mouth, and extending to Marsden, had been closed for traffic, and its re-opening was at present under consideration. The officers commanding Auckland and Taranaki Districts were the only ones paid salaries. They were very old officers, and had had the command of the districts for a long time. Government would not introduce this session the New Plymouth Harbor Commission Bill. Government would cause to be paid the pension money to the pensioners in Poverty Bay Districts through the Customs officer at Gisborne, instead of Napier. Government considered it their duty to to maintain all railway fences. Runs 204, 210, and 307, Otago, were being surveyed into suitable deferred payment end cash sale areas, and would be ready for market when the present leases fell in on the Ist March next, The House adjourned at 5.30. At the evening sitting, tho Customs Law Consolidated Bill and Industrial Soliools Rill wore read a third time, and passed. On a motion to go into Committee of Supply, Montgomery spoke for three-quarters of on hour On the question of general financial policy he contended that a great part of past loans had been uselessly squandered, ana that tho expenditure of borrowed money had mainly benefltted tho propertied class while the taxation whioh it had given rise tu pressed mainly and unfairly on tho poorerolsssos of tho community. Ho contended that we wero very unfavorably regarded on the money market ns contrasted with other Colonies, although our taxation was hoarier. He feared that further borrowing now, might render the burden of taxation unbearable, unless its incidence was changed and made to fall more equitably on the property benefitted by public works. Hon. W. Johnston pointed out that rai), woys are now paying four-fifths of their cost, and wore likely soon to pay moi'o, The population of tho Colony had doubled during the last eleven years, and the Colony was now in a far better position to borrow tlian it was when the loan policy was initiated. Uf denied that the weight of taxation was felt heavily by tho industrial classes, and us t||« Public Works and Immigration policy has) tended to raise wages in the past, he difi not think the industrial classes would at ail object to an extension of that policy. Levestam strongly urged tho repeal of thsl Boer Duty and the substitution of a Land® Tax for tho Property Tax, ' , Holmes agreed with Montgomery that Now Zealand had, in proportion to population, the heaviest debt in tho world, that its population were tho heaviest taxed, especially the industrial classes. He opposed expend;? ture on the North Island main trunk line. There was nothing to show jt xyas likely to pay for the next 30 years, Hprsthouso spoke strongly against any further borrowing, especially for wild works like the Otago central railway.

Hurst thought the present Government de. served the thanks of the Colony for placing its finances on a sound and satisfactory basis. Fish condemned the railway management and doubted if the railways were really so profitable as represented. Ho thought tho whole policy of tho present Government was to relieve tho rich propertied class and transfer the burden of taxation to the shoulders of the working classes. They should take off the beer tax before reducing the property tax. ‘ J. W. Thomson criticised the financial proposals of the Government at considerable length, and urged tho necessity for a land tax. After some remarks from Capt. McKenzie, Atkinson replied at considerable length to the various speeches, and then the Honse went into Supply, when tho rotes .£38,930 for prisons, and £7OlO for miscellaneous services, wore agreed to, and progress being reported, the House rose at 1.40.