AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 15 October 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT, IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, October 14. The State Treasurer estimated the revenue for the current year at £8,964,005 and the expenditure at £8,940,277. He proposed to introduce a land tax of three-farthings in the pound on unimproved values. The exemption on rural lands will be £SOO, and on urban lands £3OO. The tax is expected to yield £250,000. The Treasurer foreshadowed extensive port improvements and increases of salaries of low-paid civil servants. The £2ojooo surplus will be ear-marked for the last-named purpose. He announced that the Government has decided to- invited Mr. Fitzpatrick to accept the chairmanship of the Railway Commissioners in succession to Mr. Tate.

Received 14, 8.30 p.m. Melbourne, October 14. The Treasurer stated that the population of the State last year increased by 24,244, and the bank deposits by £3,186,000. The wheat harvest was valued at £5,500,000, an increase of £1,000,000; and the wool clip at £4,054,755, an increase of £500,000. Frozen and perishable products exported amounted to £2,472,752, an increase of nearly a million. WHAT THE LAND TAX WILL YIELD. Received 16, 0.20 a.m. Melbourne, October 14. In the Senate, in discussing the second reading of the Land Tax Bill, Mr .McGregor (a Government representative) hoped the tax would return two and a half millions in revenue. THE TASMANIAN BUDGET. Hobart, October 14. The Treasurer has delivered his Budget. The revenue is £ which is £54,320 above the estimate for the year. The surplus is £11,611. The estimated revenue for the current year is £980,416, and the .expenditure £1,013,161. The Government proposes a new land tax on unimproved values of a penny in the pound up to £2500, increasing gradually t0222y 2 for over £BOOO. The tax will yield £71,000. Income tax rates will be altered to Is in the pound on the incomes of companies, while they will range from 4d to Is on personal incomes from business, Is on property, with an exemption of incomes under £BO, and a deduction of half-a-crown for easi child under sixteen is allowed where incomes are under £l5O. NAVAL DEFENCE BILL. Melbourne, October 14. In the Senate Mr. Pearce, in moving the second reading, of the Naval Defence Bill, estimated the complete .cost of the Australian unit at £3,695,000, * ¥ and the annual upkeep at £500,000. Mr. Small thought that the fleet would offer to Australia a guarantee of safety. The debate was adjourned. WESTRALIAN PARLIAMENT. Perth, October 14. In the Assembly Mr. Taylor, a Ministerialist, was elected chairman of committees.