It has been already stated, that the Government will take the debate on the property tax and on the whole financial policy on the motion for the second reading of the Property Assessment Bill, which is expected to come on next Tuesday. It is understood that the issue & likely to assume a very definite shape. The ques tion will take a somewhat different character through the more active move ments of the Opposition, and the Govern ment have resolved, in any case, to "nail their colors to the mast" on the property tax question, and to stake their official existence on the result; but if Mr Ballance accepts the offered leadership of the Opposition, and moves an amendment to the motion for the second reading of the Bill, it is understood that the Premier will at once intimate that Government must treat such amendment as a want of confidence motion, and that no other business can be pro ceeded with until this shall have been disposed of. Such a course would not alter the actual result so far as concerns the question before the House, because in any case the permanent issue would be the life or death of the Ministry; but it would make this difference—that several members who might feel constrained by their elec tion pledges to vote against the property tax were that the direct issue to be faced would nevertheless not feel themselves bound to vote to turn out the present Ministry in favour of a Ballance administration. If, | then, the question became absolutely one of "no confidence, the votes would virtually be given on that issue, irrespective of the consideration that the fate of the property tax, and not that of the Ministry, was nominally the matter at stake. While then the numbers are thought to be so close on the property -tax question that were the division taken on that point clear of all collateral or contingent issues the result would be doubtful, it is confidently, believed by those who profess to be able to judge, that should the vote be explicitly taken as on the question of want of confi dence. 