PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 23, 27 January 1921, Page 4

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.

ON BOARD THE CHAT_Le__ TARIFF PREFERENCE. The Prime Minister, lit. Hon. W. ]?, Massey, attended by his private secretary, Mr. F. D. Thomson, left Auckland by the afternoon express for Wellington. His visit here was to welcome the New Zealand flagship Chatham, which he visited yesterday afternoon to return the formal call of the Commodore, Captain A. (i. Hotham, CM.';, lion. Dr. Fomare member of the executive representing the - native race, made one ef the party. i Arrived on board, the Prime Minister received the oflic-ers of the Chatham and made a brief visit of inspection. The ship's company was drawn up on deck ■ and addressing them, Mr. Alassey expressed the hope that they would be so pleased with conditions in the Donunion that they would make the country their new home. He assured them that they j could be certain of a very warm welcome at whatever port they visited. At the conclusion of the Premier's remarks three routing cheers "were given him by the officers and crew.

Mr.'Massey attended the ball at the Northern Club yesterday evening. He was present at a meeting of the Executive Council at Government House in the morning, when matters of urgent importance were dealt with. Speaking on the matter of the revision of the tariff, the Premier said that one feature of the proposed changes would be an increased preference on British goods. It was hoped also in the revision that Parliament would undertake to remove certain anomalies which had gTowu up.» Beyond this he could not say anything The wool realisation sc=eme. it seems, is still in the stage of negotiation, _ut may come to a head within the next few days. Kegarding sales of coal by the Government, he explained that the Government could not ai«tays sell at the lowest price per ton that had been paid for coal, but they did sell much below the average cost. The Premier announced that the Government had bought Welsh coal of good quality and at moderate cost compared with New Zealand prices.

An explanation regarding an error in the taxation of incotnes was made by the Prime Minister. In a recent statement he was represented as having said that the existing taxation of income is 3/ in tlie £ levied on the taxable income (that is income before exemptions have been deducted) and that the proposed 8/9 is to be levied os assessable income only. Mr. Massey pointed out that the S/9 was to be levied on taxable income only and not on, assessable income.