PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 413, 24 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(ey telegraph.) Wellington, August 24. The chief part of the afternoon sitting of the House of Representatives, yesterday, was taken up with an adjourned debate on the taxation question. Mr. Pyke's amendment was agreed to. Sir George Grey moved to insert the wcr.l "general" before the word "incidence," and strike out the words " by expenditure on public works." Mr. Stevens made a long speech, in the course of which he said the financial proposals of the Government required grave consideration. He strongly objected to an income tax, which was equivalent to an inquisitorial investigation into the earnings of professional men and industrial returns. Mr. Reynolds objected to an income tax, and in voting for the motion wished this to be understood. The Premier assented to Sir George Grey's amendment. Mr. Reader Wood thought that both the Government and the Opposition had gone mad on the question of taxation, and said no one had shown any necessity for considering the matter. He moved as an amendment, " That in the opinion of this House, owing to the necessity there was last year of meeting a part of the ordinary expenditure of the country by the issue of Treasury Bills, and the f-ict that, by the Treasurer's statement, the receipts and expenditure of the current year cannot be equalised with the appropriation of the land fund as made by the 16th section of the Abolition Act, the land fund s'lould at once be made a part of the ordinary revenue, and appropriated by this House." The Speaker ruled Mr. Wood's amendment as irrelevant, and could not be received. Tiie Premier's motion, as amended by Mr. Pyke and Sir George Grey, was then agreed to. On the motion forgoing into Committee of Supply, Mr. Reader Wood again moved his amendment. Tiie debate was adjourned until next day. At the evening sitting, Mr. Hislop resumed the debate on the Local Option Bill, and replied to many of the attacks made on the publicans and the Licensing Benches. He supported the compensation clause.

Mr. Hursthouse supported the Bill, and opposed compensation. Mr. Lumsden objected to those who could not trust themselves dictating to him. He strongly protested against the circulars issued to members by the Good Templar Lodges. He said libraries, lectures, &c., would be more efficacious remedies than the Bill for intemperance. Mr. De Lautour, referring to the Good Templar circulars, said fortunately the zeal of the few was not allowed to prejudice a good cause. If compensation was due it should be paid from the license fees. Mr. Murray-Aynesley opposed the Bill generally, and strongly insisted on compensation. Prohibition would simply encourage sly-grog selling. The education of the young was the real remedy for intemperance. Consideration shoull be directed to adulteration. The Commissioners should be able to promise licenses on the production of plans before the buildings were erected, and not allow buildings to be erected on the chance of their getting licenses. Mr. Gibbs supported the principle, but not the details of the Bill. Mr. Bryce thought the Bill should only apply to new houses. Mr. William Wood objected to the details of the Bill. Mr. Teschetnaker opposed the Bill, and supported the paying of compensation in the case of established houses. Mr. Travers urged a general amendment of the licensing laws. He had no objection to the Local Option Bill regarding new houses. Compensation should not be given for the good will of a house. Mr. Fox said he would reply generally to the various speeches when moving the Bill into Committee. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. The Timaru Mechanics' Institute Bill, and the Law Societies' Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Lyttelton Public Domains Bill, the New River Harbour Management Bill,- and the Wellington College Bill were read a third time and passed. The Port Chalmers Water-works Bill was passed through Commit tie. The House adjourned at 12.33 o'clock.