HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3490, 13 September 1882, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. RAILWAY TAXATION. Replying to Sir John Hall, Major Atkinson said that all new railway works undertaken this year would be liable to be dealt with specially in the event of Parliament determining next session to impose taxation with regard to railways. Mr Dargaville protested against such a doctrine. It was most unfair that propertied improved by railway communication in the past should go free, and other lands be specially taxed. The only solution of the difficulty was the imposition of a land tax, levied in such a way as to overtake city property. Mr Montgomery understood that what was meant by the Treasurer's statement ■was that Parliament was free to deal with the whole question next session as it thought fit. Mr Conolly would certainly object to any special taxation applying to future benefits, while those of the past escaped free. If the former were to be specially taxed he would do his best to get the others taxed also. He could not, however, agree in the opinion that a land tax was a solution of the difficulty. On the contrary, he thought a property tax was a much fairer way of overtaking all who benefited by railway works. BRIDGES IK THE TAIEBI DISTRICT. Mr Pearson moved that the item £8000 for rebuilding bridges in the Taieri district be struck out. Mr Hursthouse concurred in the motion, expressing opinion that it was moat unfair that a notoriously wealthy district should have provision made for rebuilding its bridgee, while other poorer districts never had a bridge at all. The motion was negatived on the voices. THE MEMUEHS FOR STAWMOHE AND FEAKKLIN NORTH. On the motion for going inio Committee of Supply, Mr Sheehan moved as an amendment " That the House approves of payment in full being made ol the honorarium to the members for Stanmore and Franklin North." Major Atkinson supported the amendroeot, as but for extraordinary circumstances, over which those members had no control, they would have no deductions made for the time they were absent. Mr Wynn-Williams was astonished to

hear such a proposal. These men were not members of the House at all during the time it was proposed to pay them, and therefore the House was no rrore entitled to pay the money asked for to these gentlemen than to pay it to the first person they met in the street. The motion was put that the House go into Committee of Supply.—Ayes, 13 ; noes, 31. The amendment was then put and carried. THE LAND BILL. The report of the managers on the conference upon the Land Bill was agreed to. appropriation bills. The Public Works Appropriation Bill and the Appropriation Bill were introduced and passed through all their stages. LAW PRACTITIONEHS BILL. A message was received from the Acting-Governor, recommending that certain amendments be made in the Law Practitioners Bill, which were agreed to. DISTRICT BAILWAYS BILL. A report from the conference with the Legislative Council on the District Railways Act Amendment Bill was received and agreed to. At 5 o'clock the House rose till 10 a.m. next day. Wednesday. The House met at 10 a.m. AMENDMENTS IN BILLS. Several technical amendments recommended by message from the Governor were made in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill and the Koad Boards Bill. ADJOUBNMENT FOB PROROGATION. Major Atkinson then moved that the House adjourn till Friday, at 3 o'clock, when he hoped to be ready to prorogue.