A BREEZY INTERLUDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 77, 17 August 1912, Page 5

A BREEZY INTERLUDE.

THE LARGE LANDOWNER. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. In the cour.se of his speech to-night on the Budget debate, Mr. G. W. Forbes (I'fiirunui) came into contact with the Prime Minister. Mr. Forbes said, in reference to the graduated tax proposal, that he was quite satisfied that the £50,000 landowner was giving more than £H7 per annum to the, funds of the Reform Tarty, so that if they paid the extra tax and not the contribution they would be money in pocket. •The Prime Minister: That's a low idown insinuation. ,M>'. Ha nan rose to a point, of order, declaring that such an expression ought to be withdrawn. the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher: Not by the man who made it. Mr. Speaker stated that the expression was out of order. The Prime Minister: If it is out of order I withdraw it, but I emphatically resent the insinuation that we were receiving contributions from the large landowners, and would make them an allowance in taxation.

Mr. Forbes: It is no use trying to hoodwink us by saying you are poor men, when Inst election yon had two organisers running around the country. We know that behind that party are the funds of the buj landowners who started the Dominion. You must think ve are innocent indeed. The forces behind them will soon put an end to these progressive proposals. When we come to examine them we see the cloven hoof. There was always a loophole, added Mr. Forbes. The graduated tax was to be increased £l2 1.4s on a £40,000 estate, but the valuation system was to _be changed. A more sympathetic spirit would be shown to the large landowners.