Last Night's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3585, 23 June 1880, Page 2

Last Night's Sitting.

On the House resuming at 7.30, Mr George Jones took his seat and the oath for Waitaki.

Mr Murray continued on the debate, advancing a number of financial proposals of his own, including one for the sale of the railways, the adoption of which he contended would relieve the colony of its difficulties.

Mr Montgomery accused the Treasurer of having broken all the promises of financial reforms made by him last year. He strongly condemned the proposed treatment of local bodies, and the constitution Of the proposed board. A tax on real property,' including improvements, would be preferable to either the land tax or the present property tax. He would vote for a beer tax bill. He saw real retrenchment in it, and as the tax on imported beer was also increased he would not object to colonial beer bc'ng taxed, but thought the amount proposed excessive. Nearer £200,000 than £50,000 reqivred to be knocked off the estimates, and the House would have to do if''respective of sacrifice or pary feeling. Mr W. J. Hurst took a very gloomy view pf fcite position of the colony, and. said Ihitt instead of quarrelling over who was to biaaio most of all, party considerations should be laid aside in endeavoring to find a remedy.

Wellington, This day. Mr Sauiders, who continued the debate, wpp-d have supported the motion if it only meant what it said, because he greatly disliked many of the financial proposals, and hoped to see them modified. He advocated tliA withdrawal of all subsidies to local bodies, a L?nd Tfx on large estates, a(ax on accumulated wealth and on professions, but objecl d to productions being taxed, and their machinery.' He warned the colony not to drive its faimers, diggers, and manufactories away, or those left would be unable to bear the burthen a<id would have to repudiate. Stern, unflinching retrenchment to the extent not of £50,000 but £2< 0,000 would have to be insisted on by the House. Mr E od 8 poke at considerable length ij condemnation of the Gore ament proposals a iid adnrnisiraiion. He advocated the imy osition of tea and sugar duties, and customs duties on luxuvies.instead of the taxes proposed. Mr Macandrew moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose at 11.15. .