N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 11

N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION. Thursday, September 3.

CHARITABLE AID. ' In the Legislative Couueil, The adjourned debate was resumed upon the question that the following resolution be agreed to : — "That in establishing a- system of relief for the aged and indigent poor it is expedient that it should be conducted by boards elected by contributors, and that the funds to be administered should be derived 1 from endowments, voluntary contributions*, legacies, and subsidies from the State, but that no special rates should be leviable for this purpose." Sir F. WHITAKER moved that all the words of the resolution after " that " be omitted with a view to insert the following words: — "In establishing^ a system of charitable aid, a clearly defined distinction should be drawn between involuntary and voluntary pauperism, and with that object provision should be made for relieving the aged, helpless, and destitute, chiefly in kind ; (2) no relief should be given to those able to work, but in cases of necessity work should be found for them at a rate of wages not exceeding one-half the ordinary wages of the district; (3) one-half the funds necessary, after deducting voluntary, contributions, &c., should be provided by a rate, and the other half for the present by m contribution from the consolidated fund ; (4) the funds should be administered by local boards, who should also levy the rates. Both the resolutions of the committee and Sir F. Whitaker's were ultimately rejected by 21 to 8.

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT. . In the House of Representatives, The House went into committee for further consideration of the Property Assessment Bill. , Initfause 2, ' W 'Hon. R. STOUT movedthat " property " Bhs£ .Jiclude all real and personal property, and, extend to and 'include every interest of and kind whatever, and all property which may be estimated or valued as an asset of any company. On clause 13, " Property subject to taxation," Captain SUTTER moved to reduce the £500 exemption -to £200. [ The CHAIRMAN ruled that the amendment could not be, put without the consent of the Crown being obtained, as it interfered with the revenues,. Captain SUTTER then moved that the clause be struck out. The CHAIRMAN said that by the rules of the House he could not put the motion from the chair. Mr BARRON thought the exemption had better be left as it was, although he considered the property-tax altogether wrong , Colonel TRIMBLE moved that the clause be postponed to enable the Government to consider whether a reduction of the exemption could be made. Major ATKINSON asked if it were post- .- poned would the Government be prepared to ' take that as a direction for the committee that * the exemption should be reduced. The Hon. R. STOUT' was^ not prepared to reply to that question at once. Sir JULIUS VOGSL. said it was very undesirable in the present bill to bring in a large number of taxpayers. He thought the committee would be taking the pj^-emptive of the Crown into their t%'h?«jd6 If. tihfy wfere to re-

duce the exemption, and it would bo very unjustifiable if they were to do so. After some discussion

The Hon. R. STOUT said he was willing to postpone clauses 13 and 14, but he earnestly hoped the committee would not reduce the exemption from £500. He might tell the author of the tax (Major Atkinson) that nothing would tend more to destroy it than the adoption of that course. He then moved that clauses 13, 14, and 16 be postponed, which was agreed to. In clause 18, "Property exempt from taxation,"

Mr DONALD REID moved to strike off £3000 as the amount of exemption of agricultural improvements and to insert £10,000.

Sir JULIUS VOGEL considered the proposal in the bill was a very reasonable compromise. He reminded the committee that the present bill abolished many exemptions. Major ATKINSON regretted that in a consolidation Bill the Government should bring in what they called a, compromise between a property tax and an income tax. He thought the state of the finances would not warrant the making so many exemptions. He submitted that the Government should not force such a clause upon them. He felt sure that if the Treasurer remained in office till next session he would be compelled to repeal the bill they were now discussing. He hoped those clauses would be struck out. In the absense of any information as to the result on the revenue of the Colony, he moved that sub-section 2 be struck out.

Several other members spoke on the clause,

Mr W. WHITE moved that the word "agricultural" be struck out.

A long discussion ensued, after which the word "all," preceding agricultural improvements, was struck out by 29 to 20.

The Hon. R. STOUT said that as the committee had by this vote affirmed the amendment of the member for Egmont, he would move that sub-sections 2 and 3 (agricultural improvements and engines and machinery exemption) be struck out. — Agreed to. Clause 27, providing that parties to mortgage may agree as to payment of tax of mortgage, was struck out on the voices.

In clause 13, " Property subject to taxation,"

The Hon. R. STOUT said that after the discussion that had taken place he hoped the committee would pass the £500 exemption without alteration.

Major ATKINSON said he was not prepared to take the responsibity of moving any reduction in the exemption, as the Government had not made any recommendation in that direction.

The clause providing for the exemption of £500 was then passed without further discussion.

The schedule of the bill was then agreed to. COUNTIES BILL.

The House went into committee for further c nsideration of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, and several new olauses were added to the bill.

Mr GUINNESS 'proposed a new clause providing for the election of a deputy chairman of a county council in the absence of the chairman. ji The clause was negatived on division by 27 to aa

Mr GUINNESS moved a new clause allowing licensing committee clerks to be paid out of county funds. The clause was lost by 31 to 10. The bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed.

BILL PASSED. The Property Assessment Bill was reported from committee, read a third time, and passed.

GOLD DUTY ABOLITION Captain SUTTER resumed the debate on the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. He read several returns to show the expenditure on goldfields on the West Coast. He asked the Premier to give the House some information as to the effect of abolition of the gold duty on the revenue.

Mr PYKE said the gold duty was the most iniquitous tax ever imposed on a community. It was absolutely crushing in its effect on a most important industry. The second reading of the bill was carried on a division by 24 to 21.