THE CLOVEN HOOF

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 5971, 21 August 1912, Page 3

THE CLOVEN HOOF

IOPIFtOSITION OBITIO OiN TOE BUDGET.

ALLEGED " LOiW. (DOWN yINSINUATION." WELLINGTON. August 16. The member for Hurunui stirred up the Prime Minister to-right when he dealt with the Government's proposed] increases in the graduated land tax. Mr Forbes remarked that this plank was a bit of half-inch watch-lining which could mot carry the : !lieform Party over- the next election. He was quite satisfied that the £50,000 landowner was giving more than £37 per annum to the funds of the Reform Party, so that if they paid the tax and not the contribution they would be money in pocket. Thß Prime Minister : '"That's a low .down insinuation."

Mr Hanan rose to a point of order, declaring that such an expression ought to be withdrawn. The Hon F. M. B. Fisher Not by the man who made it.

Mr Speaker said that the exprsssion was out of order.

Tho Prime Minister : If it is out of order, I withdraw it; but I emphatically resent' the insinuation that we were receiving contributions from tho large land-owners, and. would make them un allowance in taxation.

j Mr Forbes : It is no use trying to hoodwink us by saying you are poor men, when at last election vou hwd two organisers running around the country.' We know that ibehind the party are the funds of the big landowners who started the Dominion. You must think we are innocent indeed. The forees behind them will soon put an end to these progressive proposals. When wo come to examine them, we see the cloven hoof. There iwas always a loophole, added Mr Forbes. The graduated tax was to be increased £l2 14s 9d on a £40,000 estate, but the valuation system was l to be changed. A more sympathetic! spirit v/ould bri shown to She large land-owners.