wealthier sactions of the community, in this colony, should escape, while similar places in the adjacent settlement find themselves under the necessity of paying for their polies. I don't think the point adraits of argument for a moment. Hon. J. BELL-IRTING-The Race Club at Shanghai is out-ide the settlement and pays no taxes. The Country Club is just the same as the Club hero.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-Then should the Club here not pay
why
His EXCELLENCY-Does the hon. member press his amendment.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING—Yes.
The COLONIAL TREASURER--I should like to say that up to this time the town has been honey. combed with exemptions. Anybody's house that had the slightest exceptional circuisstance about it, if it was not used for au offics or godown, the owner thought it ought to be ex›mpted. A great many exemptions still exist, and applications are continually being made.
His EXCELLENcy-Lot me appeal to the hon. members. Is it rally just that whereas every poor man is taxed for his house, which is aeces- sary for his living, places of resort of the richer members of the community should be exempt? I confess I think if there was one place mora than another that ought to be taxed, it is a pare place of luxury, such as a recreation ground confined to a very small class, I think if the hon, members think of it they will hardly press an objection which does not have appearance of an impartial view of the general interests.
Hon, J. BELL-TuVING-I think it very un- fair our sports should be taxed. We make no profit from thero, and they are necessary to health. I think the Colony must be very hard up when it comes to that.
His EXCELLENCY-But what I say is this, the injustice to others. The Colony must be hard up if it requires a tax on the house of a poor man just able to support life. If you carry out the same ides you will see it leads to most lamentable results. There would be no revenue at all.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I won'd ask to be allowed to say a few words on this question, and to point out that there is a principle which supports the arguments of the Colonial Trea- surer. I can understand the opposition to the taxing of these various places, which has been raised by my hon. friend, who represents the views of those interested in recreation, but I submit that that opposition and the arguments by which it is supportel have been very fully met and in the fairest possible manner by the hou. Treasurer, who has pointed out that pro- perties of this kind are not exempt from taxa- tion at home. Now, I think that shifts the onus to those who object, and calls on them to show on what grouude such places should be exempted here when they are not exempted on the prin- ciples recognised as the fair principles for the distribution of taxation at homo, And
remind the I would
Council that Wo hare a high duty to perform with ference to a very large population which can- not be and is not intended to be directly re- presented on this Council. They are not here to speak by their representatives, mainly because it is understood the sense of responsibility that will guide us will lend this Conncil to deal with absolute justice, inore justice than could perhaps be expected if they were here to speak for themselves. I think, therefore, some sense of generosity, as well as justice, should guide the Connoil.
re-
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-I would only answer that I think most race-courses I am acquainted with bring in a revenue to the owners. The stands are let and they take gate monay.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I would point out to the hon. member that the valuation of the race-course here would be almost nominal, on the principle I have enunciatod of a hypothe- tical tenant. You cannot imagine any tenant giving very much rent for either of the Grand Stands. I believe the Race Club bere is one of the few institutions that has got somo money and is not in a hopeless state of bank- ruptcy, but you cou'd not expect any one to give a high rent, and the sum involved is really not worth disputing about. I would also point out that the only places of free recreation, the rifle ranges, have been exempted.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN-I wish to state that if my hon. friend opposite (Hon, J. Bell-Irving) intouds to press the amendment, I shall vote against it, and the roason is that I think the arguments of the Treasurer so strong against it, that these places are not open to the public. For the reason that you can object to any person joining them I don't look upon them as public institutions.
are
The amendment was then put and lost, only the Hon. C. P. Chater and Hon. J. Bell-Irving voting for it, and all the other members, with the exception of Flon. Wong Shing, who remained neutral, voting against it. Hon. P. Byria had left before the division was taken.
In Section 42, providing for penalties, the COLONIAL TREASURER proposed an addition to the effect that proceedings might be taken, oven though more than six months should have elapsed since the commission of the offence.
A discussion ensued, in the course of which it appeared that the reason of the proposed addi- tion was that according to the law defining the powers of magistrates, proceedings in the cases of offences punishable on summary conviction must be instituted within six months.
The COLONIAL TREASURER said that false returns were frequently discovered more than six months after they were made, and it was thought desirable that the prosecution should not fail on that ground.
His EXCELLENCY said he thought it would be rather a lamentable thing if some grave fraud was discovered that the committer should escape simply becauso it was not discovered within six months.
After some further discussion the term of two years was inserted in the section as the limit of time within which a prosecution must be in- stituted.
The COLONIAL TREASURER moved the in- sertion of a now clause giving the Governor in Council power to declare any district contiguous to the City of Victoria to be a part of the City for the purposes of taxatiou. This, bo said, was to provide for the extension of the City and that now districts might be brought in.
The CAPTAIN-SUPERINTENDENT of POLICE said he thought it would be well to extend the provision so that it should apply to such places ne Yanmati, which might increase so largely us to require the same police rate as Victoria.
The COLONIAL TREASUREK said that on consideration he thought the amendment was not necessary because a resolution of the Lo gislative Council under the section giving it power to fix the rate could at any time put the matter right.
Several slight alterations were made in the schedules attached to the Bill as to the form in which information concerning machinery and piers was to be given, but no question of prin ciple was affected.
His EXCELLENCY said he proposed to leave the Bill in Committee so that it might be printed again with the amendments, and at the next mestig thero would be an opportunity of making any corrections that might be found necessary.
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