PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9053, 25 July 1917, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REFLY

WELLIN.G.TOx\, July 24. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Vernoir Reed resumed tlio debate on the Address-in-RepJy. He generally supported . the National Gpvernment, but found fault with the effect of the excess profits;; tax., Ha quoted instances to show that farmers who had given up dairying because a son had gone to the front had been mulcted in 45 per cent, on the proceeds of the sale of cattle. This, strictly speaking, was capital,. yet. was taxed us if it were war profits, which was both irritating and unfair. In tho same way the dairy fanner had I been singled out to make a 'sacrifice loh behalf of the community through the butter-fat tax. He favoured an export and import tax. Speaking of the settling of returned' soldiers, he estimated that 15,000 moft would bo prepared- to take up land, and suggested the setting up of local boards for classifying the applicants and the Innd, acting _generally as.advisers, .lie favoured settling theso men on bush lands in North Auckland and the Urewera County, rather than on highly-improved farms, which were too j costly.

Mr Forbes referred- to the fact that it was part of the compact when tho National Government was formed that the cost of living would be effectively dealt with. He questioned whether the Prime Minister had given^ wholehearted support to the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald in connection with the butter-fat tax. . .«

Mr Maasey: I take my full share of tho responsibility. Concerning the general policy of the Government, Mr Forbes urgod a vigorous policy of land settlement, and advocated the re-enactment of the power to take land compulsorily, as since that power was abrogated land settlement had not been as vigorous as it ought to havo been. He also urged the imposition of a drastic system of taxation in such a way as to make , war profiteers disgorge their ill-gotten gains. ■ , Replying to a question put by Sir John Findlay earlier in the day, Sir Joseph Ward said that whatever had been done by the Post Office in removing the prohibition on correspondence "with enemy firms in Japan had been done at the suggestioni^and re-' quest of the Imperial authorities. The debate was continued by .Dr. 1 Thacker and Mr Rhodes (Thames)'.

The adjournment of the debate'was moved by Mr Nosworthy, and' the House rose at 11 p.m.