House of Representatives

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1146, 13 September 1882, Page 2

House of Representatives

In the House the motion was continued for agreeing to the resolution* of the Committee of Supply. Major Atkinson said, in answer to a remark by Sir John Hall, that all fresh railway works undertaken this year would be liable to be dealt with especially as regards taxation, in the event of Parliament determining so to do next session.

Mr Dargaville protested against such a doctrine. It was most unfair that properties improved by railway communication in the past should go free, and other lands to be special l y taxed. The only solution of the difficulty was the imposition of a land tax levied in such a way as to overtake City property. Mr Montgomery understood that what was meant by the Treasurer’s statement was that Parliament was free to deal with the whole question next session as it might think fit. Mr Connolly would certainly object to any special taxation applying to future benefits while those of the past escaped free ; if there was to be a special tax he would do his best to get the other properties taxed also. He could not agree in the opinion that a land

tax was a solution of the difficulty ; on the contrary, he thought a property tax was a much fairer way of overtaking all who benefited by these works. Mr Pea.son moved that the item £BOOO, for rebuilding bridges in the Taieri district, be struck out. Mr Hursthousc concurred in the motion, expressing an opinion thr t it was mostunf-ir that a notoriously wealthy district should have provision made for rebuilding its bridges, while other poorer districts never had a bridge at a' 1 . It was negatived on the voices. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Sheehan moved, as an amendment, that the House approves of payment in full being made of the honorarium to the members for Stanmore and Franklin North. Major Atkinson supported the amendment but for extraordinary circumstp.nces over which they had no control, these members would have been present, and it was hard that they should have deductions made for the time they were absent. Mr Wynn Williams w?s astonished to lis,? i to such a proposal, these men were not members of the House at all during the time it was proposed to pay them as such. They were no more entitled to pay the money asked for to these gentlemen than they were to pay it to the first person they met in the street. The question was put to a Joint Committee of Supply: Ayes 13, noes, 31'. The amendment was then put and carried. The report of Managers on the Conference upon the Land Bill was received and approved of.

The Appropriation Act, 1882-3, was introduced, and passed through all its stages. A message w<- s received from the ActingGovernor recommending that certain amendments be made in the Law Practitioners Bill, which were agreed to. The report from the Conference with the Legislative Council, on the District Railways Amendment Bill, was received and agreed to. The House adjourned at 5 p.m. till 10 tomorrow. This Day. The House met at 10 o’clock. Several technical amendments, recommended by message from the Governor, were made in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill and Road Boards Bill. Major Atkinson then moved that the House be adjourned till Friday at 3 o’clock, when he hoped to be ready to prorogue.