COLONIAL PARLIAMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9336, 20 October 1893, Page 5

COLONIAL PARLIAMENTS

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. V'NEW SOUTH WALES.' Sydney, October 19." After a lengthy discussion, Sir George Dibbs' motion to rescind the resolution passed some days ago, to the effect that the despatch of H.M.s. Katoomba to Samoa to interfere in the civil war among the nativesn was a infringement of the Defence Act, was carried by 45 to 15. Sir George Dibbs contended that the previous motion was only carried on a snatch division.

Twenty-five Labour members in the House have formed a new party under the leadership of Mr. Joseph Cook, the member for Hartley. The principal plank of their programme will be the single tax.

The Colonial Treasurer delivered his Budget speech to-night. The deficiency from 1892 was stated at £1,299,000. The expenditure for 1893 amounted to £9,727,000, and the revenue to £9,527,000, leaving a deficit of £201,000. The total deficit is £1,600,000. It is proposed to deal with the deficit by the creation of Treasury bills, which will be reduced by annual appropriations of £50,000, combined with deficiency bills amounting to £400,000 annually. For 1894 the estimated revenue will be £9,971,000, and the expenditure £9,854,000. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. . Adelaide, October 19. The Legislative Council, by a majority of two, decided in favour of a Bill embodying the principle of the assessment of unimproved values, but directly afterwards cut the root out of the measure by inserting a provision that half the ratepayers must vote before any corporation can apply the principle. The bulk of the Village Settlement Bill has passed through Committee. The only notable alteration 1 effected is in the restriction- of loans to half the value of improvements. TASMANIA. Hobart, October 19. An attempt to embarrass the Government by sotting aside probate duties has been defeated. Ministers pointed out during the debate that increased taxation was inevitable.