PARLIAMENTARY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 3218, 31 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY AFTERNOON. Wellington, August 30. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 this afternoon. In replying to a question the Government said that they had not intended introducing a bill this session for abolishing grand juries. Mr Fox pointea out an error in the Inland Tax Bill, which put a halfpenny on a hundred pounds, instead of a halfpenny per £. Mr Bailance pointed out that it was an obvious printer's error. Mr Sbeehan will make his statement on Native affairs on Tuesday. Mr Bailance said that complete census returns would not be ready before next session, but that the agricultural returns would be ready in a few days. Nine more bills for endowment of harbours were read a first time. Mr Bailance informed the House that on Monday next he would ask for another imprest supply. In reply to a question, it was said that the Agent General was informed of the proposed reduction on sugar, and that the bonus offered regarding the beet root sugar was not withdrawn. Some discussion ensued over the Disqualification bill, No 2. Mr M'Lean said the Attorney General ought to have taken the House into confidence, and told them the Bill was really for the indemnification of irembers |exclusively who held their seats illegally. Mr Stout said he had no objection to strike out that clause altogether. Mr Barton made a vehement speeoh against the Bill, because it did not disqualify wool growers, who came to the House and voted in a block for the retention of the lands of the crown, on which they fattened, and prevented poor men from enterin&f into the House, by voting against the payment of I members. The Bill was read a second time (.Mr Barff alone protesting), and as it was a matter of urgency, the House went into committee, but were interrupted in getting the bill through by 5.30. It is understood that the debate on the financial proposals will be taken this evening, on moving the seoond reading of the Land Tax Bill. LAST NIGHTS SITTING. On the House resuming last oiqht, Mr Ballance, in moving the second reading of the Land Tax Bill, delivered a long and argumentative speeoh, justifying all the Government proposals, and adducing a quantity of statistics in support of hia argument. The hon. gentleman did not confine his remarks to the Land Tax Bill, but touched upon all matters conneoted with the.general soheme of Government finance, and invited a tree debate upon the whole question. He spoke for over an hour and a quarter, and sat down amidst applause. He was followed by Mr Woolcock, who replied in detail to many of (he arguments of the Treasurer,

whose proposals he held to bo merely tinkering with the tariff. He especially combaltcd the imposition of a tux upou joint stock compinies and loan societies as unjust and preveutative of the industry and enterprise of the colony.

Mr Saunders heartily supported the principle of the Bill, but took strong objection to many of the details and to some taxes imposed in other Government bills. Mr De Latour strongly supported all the Government proposals in a very longspeeeh.

Mr Sutton said he calculated that all the remission of taxes in tho tariff in necessaries of life nmountedto was 2s 9d per head.

The debate and House were adjourned at 12.20.