POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 184, 18 August 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[FHOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Welltnoton, last night. The representatives ot the goldfields oon. stituencies intend giving a banquet to the Hon, W. J. Larnach to-morrow evening nt Bel. lamy's, the object being to present to him the illuminated addresses from the miners on the West Coast and at Thames. An alliance has been entered into between the West Coast members and the Maori representatives for the purpose of stonewalling the Crown end Native Land Rating Act Repeal Bill. Mr Reddon is good for several hours when the Bill comes up, and Mr R. Reeves says that he is in excellent training for a stonewalling campaign. The question of the incidence of taxation has suddenly become a burning one in consequence of the unexpected introduction by the Government of the Property Tax Bill, and more will probably be heard of the matter before the end of the session. In view of thia subject Mr Lawry has given notice to enquire from the Colonial Treasurer whether after the strong expression of opininn made daring the present session by a large nutnber of members he will during recess take into consideration the desirability of repealing the. said tax, and substituting in lien thereof some other form of taxation less offensive to the bona,fide settlers of the country, who look upsn property tax as a penalty on industry and enterprise.