Latest Parliamentary.

Western Star, Issue 1575, 1 July 1891, Page 2

Latest Parliamentary.

...—* . (By Telegraph.) Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Wellington Electric Lighting Bill aud the Christchurch Electric Lighting Bill were read a second time.

Replying to Mr Palmer, the Hon. Mr Reeves said Judge Richmond did nob sit on Judge Edwards' case at the request of the Government. Replying to Mr Scobie McKcnzie, the Hon. Mr Seddon said the Government did not wish to insult professionals in the colony by sending to Victoria for an engineer to report on the suitability of Control Ofcago for storage of water for irrigation purposes, and he thought qualified men could be found in New Zealand for that purpose. Mr Hutchison (DuuodiiiJ resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. He agreed with the proposals for the income tax generally, but thought it should have been on incomes from £250 instead of £3OO, and it abonld all over the country without any exception. As to the laud tax it should bo graduated up to £SOO, and after that it should be imposed according to acreage. While he approved of the general policy of the Government he hoped to sec some modification in the details of thenproposals. He believed that never in the history of the colony had the Government a better opportunity of doing good to tho country. All he hoped for was that the Government w mid rise to the occasion. MiThomson (Bruce) fully concurred with the remarks that had fallen from tho last speaker to the effect that the Financial Statement did not provide in any particular way for relieving the hard - working classes of the colony. He altogether disagreed with the proposal made by Mr Hutchison to put a tax on wool, and thought the same objection should be made to taxing wool as to taxing gold. He was strongly of opinion that the Premier should have made some redaction in tho property tax, instead of reducing the postage rate. The Government proposals with regard to the farming class tax he considered eminently unsatisfactory, and he felt sure that in future people who now condemned the property tax would be very sore indeed about tho income tox.—

Thu debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

Tiie Council met at 2.'M p.m

TUe Select Committee recommended that tlie Legislative Council Bill bo allowed to proceed, leaving tlic Council to discuss the clauses referring to the seven years tenure and the appointment af Speaker.

The Committee recommended that the Criminal Code, Partnership, Companies and Repeal .Hills should be allowed to proceed.

On the motion of the lion. P. Buckley, the Promoter* and Directors Bill and Trustee J 5 ill were read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Council at 4 adjourned until next day.