TAXATION REFORM IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 123, 21 November 1895, Page 2

TAX A TION REFORM IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

THE CONFSEENCE TO SIT TO-NIGHT. J t»RESB ABBOCIATION ] ' (Received November 21, 11 a.m.) Sydney, This T>\r. In the Legislative Council the roport of the Committee appointed ts draw np reasons for insisting on the amendments made in tho Land and Inoomo Tax Bill waa adopted. It is statfld that the chief grounds for insisting were as follows :— That the Speaker of the Legislative Assombly had ruled that the Land Tax portion was not a Taxation Bill, and the Council's action in regard to it was therefore constitutional; that a tax on unimproved laud values bears no analogy to an income tax, but ia in the character ot a rent charge; that the exemptions are unjuat, inequitable, and dangerous in principle; that tho tax on abacnteea would oauao a feahng of inaeourity respecting invest, ments, and tend to the withdrawal of oapital, and would alao disoonrage its employment in developing the resources of tho colony. A motion was adopted to hold aaonforonoo with the Legislative Assembly,and managers were appointed for that purpose. In'moving in the Assembly for the appointment of its managers for the conference, the Premier (Mr. Reid) submitted tho names of certaiu members, and claimed that he was within hia rights in choosing thoso favourable to the t»xe9. Mr. Lyno, Leader of tho Oppoaition, strongly opposed this course, on the ground that hia Party was ignored. He demanded a ballot, whioh waa taken, and resulted in the seleotion of those membors whom the Premier had named. Several mombers who opposed tho conference nrgod that tho Bills were Taxation Bills, and the Council had no right to amend them. They accused the Government of baoking down and surrendering tho Constitutional TJghts of the Assembly. The conferouoe is fjxed for to-night, but is not expootod to finish its labours then. In order to settle the mattor this week, both Houses are prepared to hold speoial sitting's to-morrow.