Last Night's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3591, 30 June 1880, Page 2

Last Night's Sitting.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Mr Fulton defended direct taxation and the Property Tax, and the general policy of the Ministry. Major Te Wheoro condemned the Property Tax, and urged retrenchment, especially in the -defence expenditure on the West Coast, and keeping unprofitable Maori prisoners.

Mr Oibbs warmly supported the Go* rernment policy.

Mr Tainui strongly opposed the pro posal to tax native lands.

Mr Andrews condemned the Property Tax as most unfair, and strongly objected to tne extravagant manner in which the estimates were prepared. [Still speaking ]

This day/ Mr All wright continued the debate. He declared that Ministers were in tone Liberals, and the party with which he acted last session were insincere in Liberal professions. He heartily supported the Government proposals. Mr George McLean defended the Property Tax as _(he fairest which could be imposed,.aud ridiculed the idea of its driving capital or population from the Colony. He accepted the Bper Tax as unavoidable under the circumstances of the Colony, and denied that the Customs Duties pressed severely on poor men. He urged stern retrenchment in all directions but leaving it to the Government to carry it out. .They should begin with themselves by reducing the honorarium to one half. Tho expenditure on Volunteers should also be reduced greatly. The West Coast defence expenditure was absolutely necessary at present. He approved of the Government Native Land Bin.. ■'■■■;■■

Mr McLean was still speaking when the House rose at 7.30.