POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2958, 30 June 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

♦ ' ■ [»V TELKGHArK—SPECIAL RErOKTEK.I Wellington, List Night. TAXING THE BONDHOLDERS. According to Lobby gossip, Mr Rees is pricking off a card to ascertain how much support he is likely to obtain tor his proposal to tax the English bond-holders. I hear he is pretty confident of dotting >i Rood many members to agreo with his suggestion, but nobody expects that a majority of the Houao would do so. A largo number of the members express the opinion that taxing the bond-holders would not only be utterly dishonest, but would bo little short of repudiation. PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARIAN. The position of Parliamentary librarian is still vacant, but it will probably be filled this session. The matter came up at the meeting wf the Joint Committee to-duy, but no decision was arrived at, and its was eventually postponed for three weeks. GOVERNMENT INSURANCE. It is understood that the Controller and Auditor-General intends to institute a thorough inquiry into the management and investments of the Government Insurance Department in order to see whether that department is in any way likely t:> be affected similarly to the Public Trust Office which has occupied so much public attention. The Auditor-General is empowered by statute to make such enquiry. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. A good many members are likely to speak on the financial debate yet, so that there is every probability of the discussion lasting till the end of this week, if not later. The Bill embodying the taxation proposals has not yet been circulated and they are c.ortain to provoke a further lengthy debate. Several members indeed have already declared that the present discussion ie merely preliminary to the more important one that will follow the introduction of the Taxation Bill. THE INCOME TAX. A report has beet) floating about the lobbies to the effect chut :>ne of the alterations the Government intend making in their proposals is to substitute an income tix of six-pence all round.