General Assembly.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1167, 18 December 1879, Page 2

General Assembly.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday. peoperty tax bill. ' Major Atkinson moved the second 3jflac{ing of the Property lax Bill, fla-^tated that the deficit would be £120,000. In these circumstances he hoped that Id would be agreed to, aid 30s on all insurance premiums received. Without these sums it would be quite imdossible to make any appearance towards providing for their liabilities . Mr Hutohinson, by way of recording his protest againab the measure moved, "That it be read that day six months." I'he bill was vicious m principle, inquisitorial m practice, and unnecessary as a source of revenue. Mr Dick said that m committee he would propose that the amount should bo reduced one half -penny. Mr Pitt said he would vote for the amount being made one half -penny. bir George Grey condemned the bill. It was altogether unnecessary. An income tax would have been very much better. He would vote against the bill m every form. When the question was brought up m committee as to whether the amount should be one penny or one halfpenny, he did not yet know how he would go. He would be guided by the faots then adduced. Me thought the cost of collection would be very much. Indeed it was most unfair to ask a man to value his own property. j Major Atkinson Said it was monstrous for members of the opposite side to say there was no need for increased taxation. These gentlemen had spent, during the time they were m office, three and a-half millions of money, and left liabilities to the extent of two and a-half millions. In the face of that it was perfectly absurd for them to speak about dispensing with increased taxation. There would be on the figures he had brought down a deficit of £150,000, independent of the Supplementary Estimates, which may be set down at £70,000. With strict economy, they hoped to be able 'to reduce that deficit. On the division that the bill be read a second time, the Ayes were 41 : and Noes, 22. , The bill was read a second time, and committed.

Mr Dick moved, " That the words * one penny* be struck out df clause 2, and ' one halfpenny » be inserted." Major Atkinson said that at the halfpenny rate the Government would not be 1 able to raise more than £208,000. He hoped they would not insist upon the proposed reduction. On the question that "one penny" stand part of the question, the House divided ; Ayea, 24 ; Noes, 36. The words "one -penny" were therefore struck out, and " a halfpenny " inserted. • * * The following was the division list :•— Ayes: Messrs Atkinson, Beetham Bryce, Gibbs, Hall, Hislop, Hurafc Hurathouse, Ireland, , Kelly, , Kenny Lundon, Montgomery, Moorhouse, Moss' Oliver, Richardson, Jttolleston, Saunders' Swanson, riinble, Wakefield, Whitaker' and Wright. J Noes: Messrs Andrews, Bain, Ballance Ban-on, Brandon, Brown, DeLatour! Dick, Driver, Fisher, Fulton, George, '-arris, H. Hislop, Johnston, Levin, Macandrew, Masters, McCaughan, McDonald, Me! can, Murray, Pitt, Reid, Richmond, Shanks, Shepherd, Shrimski, Speight.Studholme, Te Wheoro, Thomson. Tole, Tumbull, and .Whyte. Mr Hall said that the reduction from one penny to one halfpenny was a groafc disappointment to the Government. H« had no doubt but that members were sincere m their avowal that next session, if Government found that one halfpenny was too little, one penny would o voted. Major Atkinson morecl, aa a further amendment, "That the sum be seveneighths." > r Dick said he fully admitted there would be a deficiency, and m bringing* forward the motion he kept that fact ' steadily m view. He maintained that the deficiency could be made up m another way— for instance, a tax might very properly be imposed on Colonial-made benr. * The question was put, that the halfpenny stand part of the question as against the aeven-eigbths of a penny moved by Major .-Ukinnon, was then put, the division being-, Ayes, 24 ; JNoeB, 39. On the question that the amount of seven-eighths of a penny be inserted, Mr ;heehan moved, "That the chairman leave the chair." . He looked upon the whole thing as a mere sham. It was not necessary that any tax should be imposed at all. The motion for leaving the chair was withdrawn. The motion for seven-eighths ©f a penny was put and car ied. Progress was reported, and leave asked to sit again. Major Atkinson moved, "That the bill be recommitted, with a view of increasing the sum from seven-eighths of a penny to one penny. * Mr McLean ancl Mr Dick spokp mi n opposition, contending that the amount likely to accrue under the tax would exceed the amount calculated upon bn the treasurer, and at the reduced rate would be sufficient to meet the probable deficiency. On the motion for recommittal being put, it was carried on the voices. In comtuittee, clause 2 was again con•idered. Major At inson proposed, "That the words 'seven-eighth. > be struck ou? and the words « one penny ' inserted." The House divided on the question, that seven-eighths of a penny stand part of the question : Ayes, 1 8 ; noes, 34. • he. following is the division list :— Ayes: Messrs Balance, Brown, DeLautour, Dick, (^eorge, Harris, Johnston Levin, Maoandrew, McLean PitY ES 9 s peight / Tole, e TuiSV^ Gibbs,H a ll, Hurrt, W j'H^t Hw J house, Ireland, Kelly, agFj-gg*;

Masters, Montgomery, Moorhouse, Oliver, Pike, Reeves, Kichmond .Kiohardaon, Kolleston, Saundera, Shan£s, Sheehan, Swanson, Tawhai/ Trimble, Wakefield, Whitakor, and Wright. On the question being put, " That one penny stand part of the question," Mr Brandon moved, "That one halfpenny lie inserted." The House divided. Ayes, 18 ; noes, 34; The bill, as amended, being the original sum printed of one penny was then reported. Tuesday. Early this morning 1 the House went into Committee of Supply, and passed the remainder of the Public Works iSßtimatea, striking out only one item, viz., the Thames Orphanage, m aid of the biulding fund,'£Boo. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PBOPEETY SAX. The bill was read a third time, and passed. PUBLIC WORKS 811/ D. Mr Oliver moved the second reading of the Public Works Bill. The motion was, after a long discussion, put and carried. The House then went into committee en the bill on clause 30. Mr Macandrew suggested that £100,000 should be advanced for the completion of these lines for a period of twelve months, after which they would be enabled to float their 'debentures. He proposed a motion, to that^jffect. Mr Montgomery proposed, " That the clause be struck out altogether."