PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] YESTERDAY. House met at at 2.30.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1247, 26 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] YESTERDAY. House met at at 2.30.

Mr Kelly presented a petition from Taranaki, praying for the modification of the Property Tax. Mr Hall gave notice that he would, at the next sitting day introduce Representation Bill. Mr Hall laid the evidence of the Civil Service Commission on the table. Mr Macandrew spoke in favor of getting the evidence printed. Mr Hall pointed out that it was most voluminous, and tint the cost would be enormous. Mr Bowen moved that it be printed, and after some discussion the motion was withdrawn. In replying to questions, it was stated that unless the Bill was brought down Government was not prepared to say whether in proposed scheme of local finance due provision would be made to empower local boirds of the public works to maintaiu certain certified roads. The time for making returns under Property Tax have been extended to Ist AllgHbt. ! It might be inconvenient to make a general bill for periodical removal of Wardens and R.M.s at least every three years. The Government did not expect to receive any revenue from extra Custom duties on imported beer for financial year, 1880-1. Mr Stewart said the more the financial proposals were considered the more unexplicable they seemed to be, and that with anything like decent management the prosperity of the colony was bound to return. The property tax was essentially inquisitorial. Mr Mason argued that the Education vote should be reduced so as to provide only for primary education. Mr Hursthouse opposed the amendment of no- confidence. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. The no-confidence debate was resumed by Mr Reeves. He condemned the Property Tax, and never expected to have seen it brought into operetion. A better plan for meeting the emergency would be to impose a half-penny on wool, washed and greasy. That would realise a sum of £150,000, besides it would increase labour, as all wool would be washed. Another impost he suggested was a duty of 5s per ton on coal. That would yield £40,000, and would aid in developing the local mines. The proposal to abolish subsidies was most unfair, as most Liberal bodies were committed to engagements on the distinct understanding that they would extend over a period of five years. Mr Russell said he could not agree with the suggestion that the best way to deal with the Civil Service would be to knock off £250,000. That was far too swelling a proposal. He commended the Treasurer for the courage he had displayed in setting forth the true state of the case, uninviting as the subject no doubt was. He regarded the financial proposals as a whole as being for the welfare of the colony. He approved of the Property Tax, and considered it a slur on the industrial classes to say that the tax would hamper them. He was opposed to the Beer Tax, and thought it would be better if they had stuck to the Property Tax as originally adopted.