PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 140, 15 June 1891, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

«, (BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. LAND TAX EXEMPTIONS. The Cabinet have under consideration the following proposed exemptions for improvements under their land tax, andit isprobable they may be adopted :— Up to i' 3,000, free ; from £3,000 to £5,000, Id; £5,000 to £10,000, l|d; £10,000 to £20,000, l£d; £20,000 to £50,000, l|d; £50,000 to £100,000, l|d; over £100,000, lgd. Messrs Biyco and Lawry waited on the Minister for Lands, and were informed that no doubt a considerable sum i would be put on the estimates for opening i up the road to the special settlers at Firewood Creek, near Raglan. HOSPITAL INQUIRY. The expenses of the Auckland Hospital Commission amount to about £300, Dr. Yon Mirbach being allowed about £100. Sir Maurice O'Rorke, I understand, is entitled to actual expenses only as a late mem- \ ber of the House, bub he has not yet pub in his claim. The Government has not do- ' cided whether the Hospital Board must ' bear costs, but they may be stopped out of ' the subsidy. ' TE AROHA SEAT. The Cabinet has nob yeb decided which candidate for Te Aroha will receive the Governmenb support, lb is most probable, if only Buller and Fraser contest bho soat. fche Government will remain neutral; but if a third candidate stands, tho Government influence will bo exerted in Fraser's favour. VAILE'S RAILWAY SCHEME. Mrßeos gives notice of his intontion to move, " That in the opinion of the House Mr Vaile's system should be tried, and that as the Auckland railways are isolated they can bo worked by themselves, and that it would be advisable that the system should be tried there." Mr Reea fully expects the motion to be carried, and will follow it up with a Bill giving efiecfc to the resolution. THE FINANCIAL PROPOSAL. Tho information telegraphed on Safcur day regarding the graduated land tax has bean absolutely adopted by tbo Cabinet, and will appear in tho Financial Statement. The Cabinet has also decided to include in the financial proposals a tax on investments on tho totalisator, and on passenger tickebs issued by the shipping companies. The statement will probably be delivered on Friday evening. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR. Tbe Committee meeting convened for today lapsed for want of a quorum, Tha Committee has under consideration bheßtato of fche Now Plymouth Harbour, which is rapidly being sanded up, and tho position of the New Plymouth bondholders as affected by the advance made by the Atkinson Ministry to meet the interest due. WELCOME TO LABOUR MEMBERS Some sixty delegates from the Welling ton Labour Unions and Knights of Labour met and arranged a welcome to tho labour members ab the Opera House on Friday night when Sir George Grey will probably give an address. A resolution providing for an immediate formation of a National Liberal Association in Wellington, was passed, coupled with a vote of confidence in the policy of the present Ministry. Mr Resa intends to ask in the House whether tho Government intends to give offect to the recommendation of tho Native Land Laws Commission to appoint two natives to Upper House.