POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 11318, 13 August 1900, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Rk{-obtwi.]

SLAUGHTERING AND INSPECTION. The Minister of Lands on Friday moved hat the House go into commttee on the flaughtering and Inspection Bill, had Men read a second time pro forma. He promised not to proceed with the committee stage for a few days. It deals with the gi-Mhng of meat, establishment of abattoirs by the local authority, licensing of slaughterhouses and of meat export slaughter-houses, inspection, slaughter of stock, and compensation for diseased cattle condemned. Many Committee objections were outlined, the friends of the small butcher being numerous. The motion was agreed FINANCIAL STATEMENT. It is now doubtful whether the Financial Statement will be brought down to-morrow, as the Estimates have to make provision for the Governor's salary and Ministers' salaries, and neither of the measures dealing P*>' * nese subjects lias vet passed the Council.

£""' GRADUATED TAXATION. 'lnteresting specimen tables were laid before the House on Friday, showing how the revenue could be augmented under the altered system of graduated taxation. Though members know that another turn of the screw would affect the wealthy classes, it is unlikely that increased taxation will be asked for this session. JOTTINGS.

" The very moment Pomahaka is mentioned on the floor of this House out comes the tomahawk."—The Premier. The stereoscopio saying of the session i • 10 hon - member ha-s been as loner in this House as I have," etc. -A second reading pro forma wae accorded hyi/flie House on Friday to the Millers' Hours ,of Labor Bill, with a view to its reference to the Labor Bills Committee _ The Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill 'passed its third reading by 42 to 15 aftera set-to between Mr J. Hutcheson and the' Premier as to the action of the Wellington Harbor Board in stopping the carriage of ilis Excellency when sent to the wharf Mr Millar intends to ask the Postmastergeneral whether he will establish a post and money order office in North-east Valley. WELLINGTON, August 13. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. It has been definitely decided that the Finanolal Statement shall be brought down on Fridaynert. It is currently reported that & remission of duties on the necessaries will be proposed. In this connection it may be worth while reproducing the mind of Ministers on the subject, as set out in ; the.'Governor's Speech i " During the pre.period of universal prosperity an opportunity Is afforded of calmly and equitably cp.npidermg the incidence of taxation. It is„undoubted that great buoyancy in trade h#3 added largely to the revenues raised by indirect taxation. I trust that you may at no distant date consider the inoidence of indirect taxation, with a view to reducing the Customs duties levied on the necessaries • of life."

FINANCIAL DEBATE. It is unlikely that the Financial Debate will begin till Friday, 24th inst., and, as already mentioned, it will probably occupy a fortnight.

AN OTAGO WORK. 'Plroyieloa 'will, I hear, definitely be made hi "the' Public Worka Statement for duplioatjhg the Mosglel-Dunedin line.

;':;;■'■; jottings. iWhen- the Debts Limitation Recovery Bill comes before the Council to-morrow a &irong.effort, which will probably prove successful, will be made to strike out clause 3, limiting the amount recoverable at law for debts contracted.

Mr Wilford's proposal for the appointment »f inspectors for totalisators is not likely to De given effect to. The Government think the matter is one for the clubs, who should M>point> trustworthy itotalisator stewards. If it is established that money is rung on after a race begins the totalisator permit will probably be withdrawn.