Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/219

 The Jubilee ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 193 W. B. Rounsevell, C. C. Kingston, Jenkin Coles, Thomas Playford, and R. C. Baker. Very pressing subjects for decision claimed the attention of the Government. There was a deficit of ^436,658, and to balance revenue and expenditure new taxation was imperative. The Opposition and the people are always ready to cry down any Government proposing taxation, but on this occasion the need for it was plain to all. Opinions disagreed as to the kind of taxation. The Government, departing from the policy of previous administrations, proposed a land and income tax. The landholders cried out, but Parliament passed the Bill. The tax amounted to one halfpenny in the pound on all land in the Province (excluding the value of improvements upon it) ; threepence in the pound on trade and professional incomes, and sixpence in the pound on incomes derived from any other source. Land used for religious, charitable, and institute purposes was exempted. Other important measures were carried, such as an Agricultural Crown Land Act and a Pastoral Land Act — the first offering new concessions to selectors, the second dividing pastoral lands into three great classes, altering the basis of the leasing system, and granting comjiensation for improvements. ft. Mr> ij ^.tn ■BjL'i .. -yiia- [>i-<;i»tirf*NiJBBBBBPI^^^BBP^^il^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^_^_i^2fi| Port Adelaide in i6 In June, 1885, Mr. John Downer, O.C. — now the Hon. Sir John Downer — a native of the Province, and a very able politician and lawyer, ejected the Colton Government and formed a new Ministry, consisting of Messrs, J. B. Spence, S. Newland, J. Darling, J. H. Howe, and Dr. Cockburn — now Sir John A. Cockburn. The ensuing session was not altogether satisfactory, but it marked "the first deliberate advance" of South Australia towards a policy of Protection. A Loan Bill for / 1,332, 400 was passed, and provided for ^537, 400 to be expended on railways, ^530,000 on waterworks, and other amounts for defence, telegraph, and telephone extension, and harbor improvement. In 1886, a re-construction took place; and a Stamps Bill, a Land Bill, a Real Property Bill, and a Gold Mining Bill were carried. There was a new Loan Bill for ^850,000, which made provision for /i 25,000 to be spent on the Beetaloo Waterworks, ^200,000 on water conservation, and ^^450,000 on payment for improvements on pastoral leases. Mr. Downer attended a Colonial Conference held in London, and received the honor of knighthood. N