Evening Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3425, 13 December 1879, Page 2

Evening Sitting.

The House resumed at 7.30. CUSTOMS DUTY Bill.

:. The debate on the Customs Duty Bill was resumed by Mr Most, who said look* ing at the new tariff there was one or two items demanding explanation, and he hoped the Treasurer would see his way to strike out a good many items proposed to be taxed.

Sir George Grey considered some of the duties proposed to be of a most objectionable nature. Certain articles, necessaries of existence, were to be taxed at 50 per cent., and these burdens were felt specially by the poor. At that! moment the taxes were being taken off the large landed proprietors, and as the Gorernment had already modified its propoials, he hoped further modifications would be given effect to and the ad valorem duties would not be insisted upon until further taxation on land had been provided for.

Dr Wallit said the Government proposed to levy a tax that would fall the heaviest on the smaller clasi of propertj holders and! another tax on the customs revenue on the most essentials of life as clothing, shelter, and bread was proposed to be taxed. The taxation on wine and tobacco was right in itself but it was objectionable in another way,, as it was a temptation to illicit distillation, adulteration, and smuggling. Major Atkinson said that some of the members who had just spoken were very patriotic. They had shown how they would reduce taxation, but had failed to i show how the colonial burdens were to be paid. The House divided—ayes 41, noes 21. . The bill was accordingly read a 2nd time. STANDING OBDEBS. A debate took place on the motion that the standing orders be suspended to admit of fresh business being taken after 12.30. The motion was objected to on the ground that the most important business was frequently brought on at a late hour when the House was thin and the members exhausted. Daring the discussion members walked out, leaving insufficient to enable the question to be put. THE LOAN. Mr Hall read the following cablegram just receired from London:—" Premier, New Zealand. —Lor.v subscribed more than twice, over, list closed. We congratulate cvou. Until we found it imperatively n<*ee««*ry we delayed giving guarantee not to bring any loans on the market for 3 years.-—Loan A'genti, London." THK CUSTOMS AGAIN. The Customs Duties Bill was considered in Committee, and a motion to amend clause 3 by making the collection of the duties specified, with the exception of spirits, tobacco, and wines, to come into operation on the Ist April, concurrently with Property Tax duties was put and negatived. The Bill was passed aud reported without amendment. TAXATION ALTERATION IN OPERATION. The Property Assessment Bill was then recommitteed and the following amend* ments were put aud carried:—" That in section 2, after the sub-section, property assessment means an estimate of the value of any property as well as the amount of tax imposed on any property, and includes all matters comprised in any statement of property required by this Act. In the same section in the subsection notice after the word business where it first occurs, insert 'in the colony.' In section 1§ omit -to which any person is uutitled ' and substitute ' of which any person is owner.' Section 16 add thereto '■ and no such insurance com* pany shall be liable to taxation i|n.dfr. this act in any further respect,' Section 25, add to tho proviso *and the interest of apy occupier of such land shall be estimated at the same, as snob interest might be expected to bring if offered at public taetioo for cub."

Section 26: Add thereto " All vessels of of every kind." Omit all words of section after deputy commissioner in sixth line and substitute "on behalf of Crown by suit in his owu name." The Bill as amended was reported.

Mr Macandrew, on the motion for its third reading, said although modified, it was still unsatisfactory, the House had no right to impose additional taxation. So long as the House found the ways and means, so long would the extravagance of the Government go on increasing." The existing taxation was sufficient to provide *< for the peace, order and good Government of the Colony. , Mr DeLautour said that .the Governme at promised they would take into t&eir confidence the.. House, and state the amount they intended to levy under it. Mr Gisborne also recorded his protest against the Bill. The course ■proposed was unnecessary if the estimates had been. properly reduced. He reiterated a reduction in the estimates. He had already stated, and proceeded to say, this reduction would with other modes of retrench* ment hare been sufficient to meet al) the emergencies of the case. Mr Shepherd also protested against tht '-' Bill.

Major Atkinson replied. He asked how these retrenchment problem had act been discovered long ago. Maeaodrew had a million of money when he took onjfcff* 2 years ago. He borrowed 2| millions, when he left there were liabilities amounting to two millions'' of the loan;'' That made 5w millions in addition to which'there wero £50,000 of Deficiency Bills. These were the facts ■of the case, and he asked :"- the House to draw its own conclusion. As to Government, they had no other recourse than to impose further taxation,which they did with regret. At the * same time they bad pledged themselves < to observe the utmost economy,, and that pledge they- intended to < fulfil. They proposed to levy a tax of t one penny ! under the Bill.' ' . , The motion for the third reading was . put, and the House divided«*»Ayes 58, ' .Noes 25. ' ..':, "• '■' ■ • ■•.:-•-■ On the question that the Bill be Basted • Grey said he disputed the truth of what < had been stated by the Treasurer.; The fact was that when ho took*' office the chest was empty, besides which,, they _ found themselves the inheritor! * of • "' system of extravagant expenditure. They were having money taken out of their i pockets unnecessarily, aad whan .reason* <; strated with, were met with insult. The ' | remarks of the Treasurer were insulting to the House, and ought : .to! J6e ,hro^j(ht forward as a breach of privilege. ~ Mr Whitaker rose to aji explanation, t and was followed by Lunden. In the course of the diacussion^the former gave a flat denial to the remarks made byihe. . latter. He said ha would.pledge his word against that of Lundoa, and leave it for the House to judge. . The latter was about to reply, when the | Speaker judged him out'order.'' ■•'■''''-* I Sir George Grey stated,,ia continuation, that he hardly' knew what to' say. He believed what If r Luudon said was true, and when he attempted to speak in defence of his verity, be was put. down. The question for the third reading'wai put and carried on the voices.. The Bill was then read a third time and passed.