New Zealand Parliament

Colonist, Volume XXXII, Issue 5572, 14 August 1889, Page 3

New Zealand Parliament

(Per United Press Association.) Wellington, August 13. The House met at 2*30 p.m. Dr Hodgkinson resumed the debate on the motion for the second reading of the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill. He reviewed the policy of the present Government, contrasting it favorably with that of thtir predecessors. He wouid support the amendment if it were not made a Ministerial question. They should get rii of the obnoxious tax, and realise their assets, if they could do so. He advocated the sale of the railways, t c interest on which amounted to £750,000. They only paid about 2J per cent, and thus there was a deficiency or nearly £400,009.

Mr Cowan believed the country was opposed to disturbing the incidence of taxation. All kinds of taxation were obnoxious. He was opposed to further borrowing for a number of years, and would oppose tha amendment.

Mr Taylor supported the amendment. The sooner the Property tax was abolished the better. The House adjourned at 5.30 till 7.30 p.m. Houae resumed at 7.30. Mr Taylor continued his remarks, asserting that sinoe the present Government took offioe 10,000 people had left the Colony. Sir H. Atkinson siid the leader of the Opposition had practically no fault to. find with tha Government, and the mover of the amendment had made no proposals at all with respect to taxation, and bo was supports*) by many who thought ha was going to giro them . a land and iaaomo tax, but they were mil. taken The leader of the Opposition had -. advocated a property tax with oertaia modifications. < He regretted tbat the amendment had baen moved without tha approval ot tba lsader of either party, and said that many hon gentlemen opposite seemed to have no sense of responsibility, and responsible government coull never be oarried oh if such questions were to be treated in this way. The terms of the amendment might be applied to every form of taxation. If the criticism of tbe leader of tbe Opposition waa the worst - that could ba said of the Financial Statement it stood the test very well.. Ho contended that the surplus was a genuine one, Tha Primago duty was a part of the ordinary revenue, imposed for tho purpose of paying a particular debt. He contended that the proceeds of such, duty constituted a surplus. The Government were perfeotly justified iv investing Post Offioe funds under proper security. It was very diffioult to borrow : moderately withoat going fur.her, but unlesj their railway proposals were agreed to there ''' must be further borrowing, The Premier at length dealt with the reasous for prosecuting the Otago Central, Pubipuhi, and. North Trunk lines. The Bill under consideration providsd for the modification of the property tax, an. the only object of the amendment was to discredit the Government. The Stoat, Yogel, and Ballance party were pledged to abolish tho property tsx, but had nsvar been I able to do so, and ha asserted it could not be done without a disarrangement of their | finances. As Treasurer he was responsible | for the revenue of tbe Colony, but could not listen to such a proposal as a land and income tax - He claimed that the present Government had done more for bona fide settlement thin ft'-y other Goveinment. It was impossible to remodel the taxation of the Colony at present, and the Government was not prepared to accept the amendment before the Hou ie, and .f it were carried the usual consequence must follow.

Mr Walker said it was refreshing to hear the Premier talk about moderate borrowing. He thought euffioient had not ben done In the direction of gashing on villAge settlement. Beferring to the publio meetings addressed by the Premier'at Auckland and Nape**, ha said that after the' pronounced exir._B_.ion of opinion at those places, the House might expect many more cot;cessions in the property tax this cession.

Mr Ward said the Opposition wss quite aa > much in eirnest as the Premier in discussing this question. The property tax was most injuiiaas io tt- erec-lion, and it was neoessary to find a substitute for the tax or to amend it «on_d«rably. Farmers were tha chief con,-, tribute-is to the property tax,' He hoped tba amendment wonld be carried, whatever tho reach might ba, ai tbe property tax _ad dona a.deal of damage to the oouatry. Mr Taun« maved the adjournment of the debate, which wai agree, to, md the Home icfietU.4l, c.