AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 111, 18 August 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

SUPEKAMMJATTON.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright . Sydney, August 17". The Legislative Council passed 1 a Bill to provide for a superannuation, fund for the railway and tramway service. FEDERAL LAND TAX. Melbourne, August 17. In the House of Representatives- Mr'. Fisher, moving the second reading of the Land Tax Assessment Bill, said it was not a taxing measure, but' would give power to collect the tax. The principle of the Bill had been affirmed in every State in the Commonwealth but orie, and in New Zealand. It would help to check the tendency to increase the population of towns as> against the country. He showed that New Zealand had a population of 9.75 per square mile to the Com-

monwealth's 1.47. The population of Wellington was 7.6)•■' per cent, of the whole population, while that of Sydney was 37.2 and of Melbourne 43r2. In Australia, during late years, there had been an increase of large estates, whereas in New Zealand they had decreased to the extent of 4 per cent. This was apparently attributable to the influence of unimproved land taxation.

Mr. Fisher added that he could give extracts to show that the imposition of the land l tax in New Zealand' had improved the conditions of the people. The Government anticipated getting about £1,000.000 from the tax in the present financial year. This would be more than swallowed up in defence expenditure. The object was to raise revenue to carry on the «reat services of the Commonwealth. Absentees are penalised to the extent of aipenny, and have no exemption. The debate was adjourned till August ' 24.