EVENING SITTING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3634, 23 June 1880, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

On the House resuming, Mr George Jones took his seat and the oath for Waitaki.

Mr _Muhbay continued tho debate, advancing a number of financial proposals of his own, including one- for the sale of tho railways, the adoption of which ho contendod would relieve the colony of its difficulties,

Mr Montgomery accusod the Trea- | surer of having broken all the promises of financial reforms made by him last year. He strongly condemned the proposed treatment of local bodies, and the constitution of the proposed board. A tax on real properly, including improvements, would bo preferable to either the land tax or the present property tax. In common fairness, if the latter tax was levied those not reached by it should be taxed on income. He would vote for a beer lax bill. Ho saw real retrenchment in it, and as tbo (axon imported beer was also increased he would not object to colonial beer being taxed, but thought tho amount proposed excessive. Nearer £200,000 than £50,000 required to ;be knocked off tho estimates, and the Eouse would have to do it irrespective of sacrifice or party feeling. Ho regretted that with such questions, demanding their best attention such a false issue had been raised as that of tho present motion, for which, However, he would bo obliged to voto.

_ Mr W. J. Hdbst took a very gloomy view of the position of the colony, and said that instead of quarrelling over who was to blame most; all party considerations dhould be laid aside in endeavouring to find a remedy. He agreed with Mr Montgomery about retrenchment. He defended the Property Tax in principle and operation, but regretted the osomptions. Ho defended his conduot in changing sides last session, saying ho acted then, as now, under a high sense of responsibility, and duty.

Mr Saundehs is now apoakia^.