MONDAY, JUNE 29.

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 16

MONDAY, JUNE 29.

THE TAXATION POLICY. Various conflicting rumours are afloat to-day as to the probable coqrse in respeofc of the Government taxation. One of these I mentioned yesterday— namely, that the income tax would be reduced to 6d all round, and that the differential principle would be abandoned. It is still maintained by some members that this will be done, others absolutely deny that any such change will be agreed to, and that the alteration will be to give some relief to the smaller traders, preserviag the shilling tax on the bigger traders, and also retaining the principle of differential taxing between commercial and professional incomes. Those who take the latter position say that the Ministerial party, however they may criticise the defeots'of the scheme, will loyally support it as a whole, trusting to be able to amend it when the bills are in committee j bat if unsuccessful in this effort will, nevertheless, support the proposals as a whole. It seems to be accepted as certain that the tax on improvements will be materially, modified.

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Otago members tell me that a strong effort is being made to get £50,000 put on the Publio Works Estimates for the Otago Central railway, bat if the sum available for railways is too small to permit so large an appropriation the Otago members will be content so long as a fair share of the total sum available is allocated to this work.

JOTTINGS.

A movement is on foot to- have the fond accumulated from the fines inflicted upon railway employes devoted to the relief of men injured while engaged in the discharge of their duties.

On Saturday, while at the funeral of the late Captain (Fraser, Sir George Grey caught a chill, and has had to remain in his room since, but he has almost fully recovered.

The Public Schools Bill, submitted by Mr Fisher, has been presented. It provides for the abolition of boards of education and school committees, and that their powers shall be vested in the Minister of Education and in a school board.