WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9492, 14 August 1891, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[from ODR OWN COEBB spOND ® NT '^ WELLINGTON, August 12. LAND AND INCOME TAX. There are several congratulations . ~ successful passage of the Bill last n g . The Opposition, except ft . f ® w displays a commendable spirit o£ fair p y, and is willing loyally .to Jf® Government to carry out its policy turbed. The firm and judicious : conduct > of the Premier is the subject of universal admiration, and there is no doubt it is mostly owing to his tact and discretion that the principles of the Bill have been carried triumphantly across-the, stormy water of Committee. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. . ' Mr Ballance’a Customs and Excise Bill provides that the duty on unmanufactured tobacco entered for m *n£f* o “ u *® J ll , the Colony, from Jan. 1, 189*, shall be eighteenpence a pound, and from_ Jan. ,1, 1894, two shillings on colomally-maae tobacco, one shilling; on colomally-made cigars, cigarettes, and snuff, eighteenpence ; and no compensation if the duty should be altered. MUNICIPAL COUNCILS.

Mr Ballance’s Municipal Councils Bill validates previous special orders. Proposals for a special loan are deemed carried if the votes in favour ate not less than twice the number against jt. This is to apply also to Town Districts. One per cent may be used for unauthorised expenditure. Councils may transfer powers to supply gas and electricity, but a poll of the burgesses is first necessary. A Council may aid museums aud libraries. Charitable institutions, and schools not conducted for profit are exempt from rating. RE-VALUATION. The Waste Lands Committee has just passed the Settlers’ Re-valuation Bill. BANKRUPTCY. The Joint Committee on the Bankruptcy Bill has made certain amendments which, while they leave untouched the principles, are interesting as matters of detail.' For. example, one amendment defines day, cash and ledger as the books which every trader must keep, and in which all his transactions must be entered. Another, that preferential claims for rent be. in-, creased from six to twelve months. Fraudulent preference, the Committee holds, should not be charged unless fraudulent intention is clearly proved. Obtaining credit by means of bogus. balancesheets is made punishable with two years’ imprisonment. Tha Committee deals also with the cases of men who build on land belonging to their wives and bid defiance from these castles to thoir creditors. It recommends that the Bankruptcy Court be given power to charge the value of the building upon the land. Should the wife refuse to pay, the Court may sell the whole property, paying the wife the value of the land and dividing the balance among the creditors. I do not think, judging from the opinions I have heard, that this last recommendation will ever be embodied in the statute book. . private members’ bills. Private members are to have Thursday next for their Bills, but I fear most of the time will be wasted in fighting ainong themselves for precedence. There are now some seventy notices. Bills, &0., on the paper. A good deal of private business will, of course, have to be dropped. DAIRY FACTORIES. During the discussion in Committee on the Factories Bill to-night, it was suggested that dairy factories should he exempted from the stringent provisions for cleanness. Several members pointed out that these provisions were not necessary in respect to dairy factories, as the proprietors. knew that with them cleanliness would be a compulsory virtue. This was generally accepted, and the House exempted these institutions. TBE AGENT-GENERALSHIP. The Premier informed me in the most distinct terms that the Government baa not decided anything about the AgentGeneralship. The “ canardists ” have this time fallen back on Mr Perceval.