LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8148, 17 January 1895, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

Mblboubnk, January 16.

In the Legislative Assembly last night the Premier, referring to the recent crisis, said that the Legislative Council had a legal right to act as it had done, but whether it had a constitutional right was another question. Looking at.all tbe circumstances quietly and impartially he thought that the House could not afford to raise a constitutional question which could be avoided. The real question to consider was what course was desirabie in the interests of the whole colony. The Land and Inoome Tax Bill in dispute could be sent back to the Council, but in the face of its almost unanimous rejection there -was little chance of its being accepted now. The Government would then have to dissolve the House which would be punishing recently returned member*. It was not certain that this step would lead to a linal solution of the difficulty. He believed that this course would be injurious tothe best interests of tlie colony and would create a turmoil. He believeil that a land tax was growing in favour and attributed its defeat to the pressure of financial institutions. He hoped with the income tax, reduction of subsidy to municipal bodies, and retrenchment to be able to reduce the deficit for the year to £78,000. He then moved the introduction of the Income Tax Bill which was carried to the Committee stage.