PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 224, 22 September 1925, Page 9

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY,

A SHORT SITTING.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The business of Parliament was cut short to-night !>y an early adjournment out of respect for the memory of the late Hon. .'. H. Izard, who died on Saturday. The House carried a motion of condolence to the widow and relatives of deceased and rose at 5...0. Tributes to the political, communal and personal worth of the late legislator wore paid by the Prime Minister. Mr. T. K. Sidey (the acting- Leader of the .Opposition!, Mr. 11. E. Holland (Leader of tiie Labour party,. Sir Jas. Parr and others. The only business taken by the House was questions, which were few and were soon disposed of. It is considered that this unexpected curtailment of the working hours will dispose of the possibility of Parliament concluding the session this week. Death Duties Amendment. The moat interesting provision -of an amendment of tlie Death Duties Act introduced by Governor's Message in the House of Representatives to-night is that which will exempt from duty Insurance moneys up to £1000. The'right of appeal against tho decision of the commissioner in respect to assessments is extended to cover questions of fact as well as of law, and when the matter is one of law it can be removed from the Supreme Court to the ( ourt of Appeal. No appeal on n question of fact can lie if the questions at issue luive already been determined under the provisions 01" the principal Act, und this extended right of appeal is also limited by excluding cases where death duty has been paid more than three year's prior to the passing of this Act unless notice of appeal has already been given. In other cases of pending appeals notice must be given within two months >>i' the passing of tlus Act. ' Country Library Concessions. The high cost "of reading to library subscribers in country districts was referred to by Mr. J. C. Rolleston in tho House to-night, when he gave notice tn ask the Postmaster-General whether he would introduce a reduced rate of postage on library books sent to subscribers in country districts away from the railway, so that they would be enabled to obtain the same privileges as subscribers living close to the "railways.