PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2093, 6 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, Ded. 5. The select Committee on Press telegrams submitted their report. In reply to Mr Tole, the Premier said the salaries of lunatic asylum officers would be equalised throughout the colony by means of reductions, and that no increase would be given to Auckland officers. The Premier also intimated that the Government was not prepared to place a vote on the estimates for an exhibition at Wellington.

On the motion for going into Committee on the Property Assessment Pill Mr Macandrcw expressed his detestation of the measure, and said he hoped the House would have nothing to do with it. Considerable discussion ensued, the members for the Government defending the Bill and the Opposition abusing it. [Bv Telegraph.] The following alterations were made in Committee on the Property Tax Bill last night: —Clause 12, exempting all property under £3OO in value, was amended so as to read £SOO. Clause 13 —-“Every company shall be liable to taxation on its capital, viz., the balance of assets over liabilities of the company,” was struck out. Clause 18 was made to read as follows :—“ The mortgager of any land shall in respect of such land be liable to taxation only on (he dift'ernce between the whole value of the land mortgaged and the amount of money advanced on the mortgage of the land ; provided that in every such ease the mortgager shall append a statement of property belonging to him, and the names and addresses of the respective mortgagees.”