PARLIAMENTARY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 3104, 26 July 1894, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, This day After tho telegraph cffico closed at 2 o’clock this morning the debate on the motion for the third reading of tho Land Tax Bill still proceeded*. Messrs Buchanan, G. W. Russell, Duthie, O’Regan, Alien, Hogg, Harris and Pirani having spoken, Mr Ward replied. lie complained of misrepresentation on the part of tho Opposition members for tho purpose apparently of damaging the Government in the eyes of the country. Ho denied that the Imperial guarantee dob ntures were pledged as slated bv the Opposition and said they were in the hands of the Bank of England absolutely free. As to the statement that no mention was made of this bill until the Budget canao down, he pointed out that some four week’s ago the Tax Department made it known from one end of tho colony to the other through the medium of the Press Association that tho Land Tax would bo collected this yoar in August iostead of December. It was not the fault of the Government that the debate had been prolonged, and ho had not refused any information to tho Uouso. It had been asserted that the Treasury Bills were exhausted, but this war. not the case. They were available, but the Government did not consider it judicious to allow them to bo locked up to tho extent of £600,000 which Lad to be 6cut to London to meet interest, and besides it did not always follow that money could bo obtained for Treasury Bills. This, ho thought, was a complete answer to the enquiry why tho Government had not issued Treasury Bills instead of calling up tho Land Tax. The Government took full responsibility for their pioposals, which they considered were in tho true iaterests of the colony’. Tho motion for tho third reading was carried by 29 to 11, and the bill was passed.

Mr Seddon said tho Government could not fairly be accused of springing a surprise in the matter, for ho had spoken to the Leader of tho Opposition during the afternoon, aud explained tho urgency that existed for the passage of tho bill. The House rose at 3 10 a.m.