LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8553, 11 October 1907, Page 5

LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT BILL.

(By Telegvaph—Parliamentary Correspondent).

WELLINGTON, October 10. In the Legislative Council, to-day, the, Attorney-General, in a singularly brief speech, moved the second reading of the Land and Income Assessment Bill, which passed the House on the 29th ult. He explained the object of the Bill, particularly referring to its provisions for the prevention of evasion, and declared that its operation would be for the benefit of New Zealand as a whole. The Bill was also designed so as to give an inducement to the cutting-up of large estates. The holding of large areas of land was not in the best interests of the country, and the Bill itself was the best working com promise that coul 1 be arrived at and was far in advance of any previous legislation. The Hon. W. W. McCardle (Auckland) deplored the fact that settlers in some parts were slowly disposing of their holdings, which were being placed in the hands of landholders. The Hon. H. Scotland (Taranaki) desaribed the Bill as one of a series of Socialistic measures which had bees': ' introduced into Parliament, and which would be brought forward until the capitalist was frightened away, employers were driven into the Bankruptcy Court, the credit of the colony ruined, and anarchy reigned. The Hon. J. Rigg (Wellington) contended that the graduated tax would not "burst up" large estates, and pointed out that a man with £200,000 worth of land could well afford to pay £5,000. The debate was adjourned.