AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTS.

Melboukne, December 13.

The Victorian Pjetnier. in moving the second reading of the Land and Income Tax Bill, said he thought that, as the principle had already been approved, they should pass the second reading without a division. Sir J. B. Patter»on objected to the bill as containing a veiy irnportanc new feature of taxing a man's principal instead of his profit. The deb&te was adjourned. The second reading of the Land and Income Tax Bill was carried in the Legislative Assembly by 48 to 36. Mr Murphy gave notice of motion that, in view of the stringent retrenchment, the Premier be instructed to communicate with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, so that no new Governor be appointed for the time being.

December 14.

In Committee on the Land and Income Tax Bill a proposal was made that the LSOO exemption should apply to mortgagees as well as to owners. The Premier agreed that in mortgsgea up to LIOOO the LSOO should be deducted, and this was carried ia the ■ection providing for the income tax. The Premier moved that the tax on incomes derived from properly be doubled, as follows : — Bightpence in the pound up to LI2OO, Is in the pound up to L 2200, Is 4d in the pound over latter amount. The motion was carried.

An amendment was proposed in Committee on the Tax Bill in the LegWatite Assembly that the Government should forego the old land tax, which dates from June last, till February next, in place of the new tax, which dates from last July. The Premier refused to entertain tbe proposal, stating it meant a difference of £60,000 to the revenue. On a division, the amendment was carried by a majority of one vote, but the Premier ani nounced that he would seek to get tbe decision reversed on the third reading of the bill. If unsucceesful, he said, be would require to bring down fresh taxation proposals. December 17. There is a split in the Cabinet over the taxation proposals, as the result of which Sir F. T. Sargood, Minister for Defence, has resigned from the Ministry. He opposed the increase in exemptions, and also disagreed with the methods adopted by the G>vernment in carrying on their Taxation Bill. These methods, he considered, were an infringement of the rights of the Legislative Council. The Premier (Mr Turner), in accepting Sir F. T. Sargood's resignation, wrote to him stating that he was surprised that so old a parliamentarian as Sir Frederick should have seat a copy of the letter containing his resignation to the press for publication. Knowing the taxation intentions of the Ministry, be should have declined to join the Government in tbe first instance. Sydney, December 14. The Legislative Assembly sat continuously for 32 hours discussing the Estimates. Very few reductions were made. Hobaet, December 14. The Premier confirms the cablegram from London that tbe Government are about to tome a loan, and saya it will be placed on the London market about the first week in January. Adelaide, December 14. In the Legislative Assembly the Colonial Treasurer stated the Government would not contribute towards the defence of Thursday Island until the Queensland Government agreed to assist in defraying the cose of protecting the Port Dtirwin cables. Bbibbane, December 13. The Standard Time Bill passed the Queensland Assembly in all Its stages. PfiRTH, December 12. Mr Wittenoom bat accepted tbe vacant portfolio of Colonial Secretary.