AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12874, 18 August 1910, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

CiAND TAX ASSESSMENT BILL.

Press Association— Copyright.]

f Melbourne, August 17. Hi the House of Representatives Mr Fis%r, nmving the second reading of the land Tax Assessment Bill, said thatty was not a taxing measure, but was tVgive the power to collect toe tax. The principle of the Bill, which has been affirmed in every State of the Commonwealth but one, and New Zeaand, was to help to check the tendency to increase "the population of the towm, as against that of the country. Ho showed that New Zealand had a population of 9.75 per square mile to Erie Commonwealth's 1.47 The population of Wellington was /.6; cent of the total population while that of Sydney was 37.2 and Melbourne 43. In Australia during late years there had been an increase in large estates, whereas in New Zealand tJiey had decreased to the extent o 4 per cent. This, apparently, was attributable- to the influence of an unimproved land tax, and he added that he could give certain extracts to show that the imposition of a land tax in New Zealand had improved the condition of. the neoDle The Government anticipated Sng about £1,000,000 from the tax during the present financial year, but this would be more than swallowed up in defence. The object was to raise revenue to carry on the great services of the Commonwealth. Absentees would be penalised to the extent of Id, and would have no exemption The debate was adjourned tdl the 24th.- ' ... I