VICTORIA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9896, 24 January 1895, Page 2

VICTORIA.

Melbourne, Wednesday. The Assembly, by 45 to 42, rejected the motion to reduce the Agent-General's salary to £1000. So far the discaeslon in the Legislative Connoil on the Income Tax BUI has been of a hostile nature. The promoters of the National Trnst in connection with the meat export trade have formulated a Bcheme which 1b now being considered by the agricultural and pastoral societies throughout the country. They nrge the Government to pass a bill to enable the stockholders of the colony to form themselves into a trnst for the development of the export industry, that power be given to levy a rate on all stock, and that the sum of £145,000 will provide ample funds to establish freezing and storage works in Melbourne, Geelonp, Warrnambool, Portland, and any snltable places in the oonntry districts, this money to be provided as tequlred by the issne of debentures at 5 per cent interest guaranteed by the Government. In order to provide interest and repayment of the debentures a tax of only two shillings per hundred sheep upon the thirteen millions in Viotoria wonld be necessary. This tax wonld bring In a yearly income of £13,000, which would provide tbe interest and pay off the principal in 15 years. A proportionate tix on cattle would probably yield £9000, which could be used in redeeming tbe debentuies or for tbe purpose of assisting in opening np markets in various parts of the globe.