PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 8, 9 July 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

THE LAND AND INCOME TAX. An important return from the Commissioner of Taxes shows that the total taxable value for Land Tax is .£55,105,920, which at Id in the pound gives .£229,608. A deduction of will bo sufficient to cover all reductions that can bo necessary. The additional absentee graduated tax is not vet calculated, but tho amount will not bo important as regards tho revenue. Many alterations may have to- bo made in finally adjusting the assessments for' graduated tax ; and, although the result now comes out at .£72,307, it would bo prudent in levying a tax to allow for a possible reduction of .£SOOO. The yield of Income Tax from companies, including tax on debentures, may bo set down, at Is in tho pound, as .£-17,000. Tho total debenture debt of companies is abont .£10,000,000. Incomo Tax is estimated to yiold .£87,743, divided as follows :— Companies, .£47,000 ; business, ,£26,705 ; employment and emolument, .£14,038. Time has not permitted any scrntmy of returns of income. Many returns will bo materially increased upon investigation, and the number received will be largely added to as soon as demands are spnt out to those persona who have neglected to forward roturns. Tho Commissioner estimates tho present result, £40,743, will bo increased to £15,000. Tho revenue thus expected from tho new taxation system ia .£378,015. Wellington's hospital. Dl'. MacGregbr, in his arinual report on Hospitals, saya of tho Wellington institution : — I have visited it frequently during the year, and its nianagohient is constantly under my oyo. It is working with the utmost harmony arid efficiency. There is only ono point on which I think it nocossary to give a note of warning— namely, tho large proportions that tho out-door department is assuming. Tho number of individual cases has risen from 1936 last year to 2145 this year, and the number of attendances from 4095 to 6232. When these figures are con' sidered in relation to our population, it will be seen that a very serious question emerges, and it becomes still more serious when 1 state that among tho easc3 treated free there wore 65 individuals suffering from venereal diseases in six months. Very great credit is duo to Dr. Ewart and his staff for the admirable devotion with which they faced tho deplorable epidemic of typhoid fever, which prevailed during the fall of the year. Tho resources of tho institution wore strained to thd utmost, and there is no doubt that more acccommodation is required, especially for females and surgical cases. _ The daily average cost was 3s lOJd, which is reduced to 3a 3^d by patlonts' payments. IMPORTANT TO PARTNERS. Replying to Mr. Fish yestorday, tho Premier said Government intended to amend the Land and Inpomo Tax to grant relief in sufh cases as this : — Suppose a firm of three partnors had an incomo of £600. The incomo of each individual partner would bo £200, and were they not treated as a firm they would bo exempt from tax, but as a firm only ono exemption is mode, and they would therefore have to pay, as the law at present stands, on this whole of tho combined income above £300. This is a foaturo of tho Act to which much exception was takon during the recess. Mr. Dathie said much hardship would be inflicted on local firms wore tho prosent regulations rctainod, and Mr. Allen suggested that tenants -in -common should also bo allowed exemptions on their separate interests. THE COAL MINEB ACQUISITION BILL. Mr. W. M'Lean gave notice yesterday to introduce his Coal Mines Acquisition Bill on Tuosday next. Mr. M'Loan proposes to restrictthe further salo or lease of any land containing coal or lignito, and that within a reasonable time all leases already granted must be workod or cancelled. Government are to bo ompowored to work any coal mines, tho coal to be first used in supplying Government wants, and tho remainder to bo disposed of in the ordinary market. JOTTINGS. Mr. James Mills made his first appearance for the session in the House last evening. Tho Minister for Public Works has promised Mr. Carncross that he will inform the Railway Commissioners that members desire to secure a Saturday half -holiday for railway surfacemen. Mr. Fish told the House yesterday that ho paid the canvassers who obtained signatures for his petitions against woman suffrage 7s a day, and not at per hundrod. Tho Minister for Lands told Mr. O'Conor yesterday that Govornment cannot see their way to improve Crown lands before sale Tho question of setting up a Colonial Industries Commission is boing considered by the Cabinot— bo the Premior told Mr. O'Conor yestorday, adding that ho would mike a statement about it on Tuosday. Mountaineers and tourists generally will bo glad to know that Mr. Rhodes is moving to scure the improvement of tho roads to Mount Cook and its glaciers ; and Captain Russell to get a wharf at Tokaanu, Lake Taupo. Mr. Houston desires that in future, whenever complaints are made against Govornment officials, an enquiry shall bo hold, the complainant guaranteeing costs, which shall follow the result. Workmen's trains— to run morning and ovening at fares of 2d return for each five milos up to 15— aro aßked for by Mr. O'Conor. Mr. R. H. J. Rooves wants the Government to license tobacconists. According to Mr. Forgus, the less the Premier knows about a subject tho more he has to say about it. The Oyster Fishorios Bill imposes penalties of from £1 to £20 on anyone disturbing oyster beds illegally. Dr. Newman suggested that oyster spat should be distributed all ronnd the coasts by Government to ro-oreate the denuded beds, and with a view to cultivating them as in America and Europe. Mr. Seddon approved, and said tho experts to be appointed would do this, and Governmont intended to dovolop tho industry. Dr. Macgregor, in his annual report, says of the State subsidy on charitable subscriptions :—": — " As long as this is given for outdoor reliof so long does the State provide a nutrient medium for the culture of parasitical organisms to prey on itself." Mr. Taylor wants £5000 spent in Cantorbury to give work for "tho poprand needy." The Hon. Mr. Rolleston is to ask the Minister for Public Works whether ho was aware of tho regulations as to enquiries into the conduct of Railway employe's, published by the Evening Post, when ho repliod to Mr. Hutchison reoontly. Mr Parata says the West Coast natives are very anxious to assimilato their habits to those of their Europoan neighbours in the cultivation and settlement of their lands, and aro anxiously awaiting the settlement of the West Coast roserves question in consequence. Mr. Buckland says that Sir George Grey is too wily to be drawn out bjr Mr. Shera, and will yet appear in his place in the House, quietly ignoring tho Government's desire to export him. The Hon. Mr. Rolleston says the City of Wellington is dotted over with what were once native reserves, which have been subverted from their original purpose. A petition six feot long, signed by women of Dunedin, -was presented to tho House by Sir John Hall yesterday. The petitioners allege that they "had signed a petition to the House under the belief that they were signing a petition asking for the extension of the franchise to -women." They now asked that their names be erased from that petition. Sir John Hall said the matter was serious. On the petitions in question (presented by Mr. Fish) being reported on by the Petitions Committee at a later stage, they were referred back for enquiry. Mr. Fißb. said he did not believe the allegation. Mr. Valentino tried to ascertain yesterday whether all administrative detail in connection with the permanent forces and volunteers was to be transferred from the Aoting Under-Secretary for Defence and vested in Colonel Fox? The Defence Minister would say nothing further than that after the return now being prepared by Colonel Fox had been considered, satisfactory arrangements would be made. Mr. M'Guire wants to know whether the English capitalists who Bupplied the North Island Trunk Railway Loan had any ( guarantee that it should be spent on the railway, or whether it was simply a general loan so far as they were concerned. It was expected that there would have been an all-night sitting on the Electoral Bill in Committee last night, but. when midnight was approached, some of the members carefully kept the debate on the West Coast Sottloment Bill going till after 12.30, thus preventing any farther business being taken. When Mr. Ballanoe got up to reply, soon after, he said he had to congratulate some members on the facility with which thoy could talk on matters which they did not understand. The correspondence in connection with the proclamation of a special licensing district at Otorohanga has been laid on the tablo. Wahanui, Taonui, and 30 others, wrote to the Minister on 2lßt December last, asking that a license be granted to the Otorohanga hotel, on account of so many Europeans going to it. Wahanui also wrote separately on the 22nd of the same month, explaining that he had signed the first document because he was grieved at the trouble Messrs. Perry and Tanner, of Te Kuiti, had got into through sly grog selling.