PARLIAMENT'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1931, Page 10

PARLIAMENT'S WORK.

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL PASSED

effective ON AUGUST 1.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

The Legislative Council provided the most interesting feature of the Parliamentary proceedings to-day, for it disposed of the Unemployment Bill in one sitting. Councillors discussed the emergency measure in a sympathetic manner, and were thanked by the Hon. R. Masters, acting-Leader of the Council, for their reception of the bill. He countered suggestions for alternative methods of raising funds by pointing out that heavier taxes on luxuries might lead, not to increased revenue, but to the curtailment of taxable resources. He mentioned the heavy drop in totalisator receipts as showing diminishing possibilities from this class of taxation.

The bill was ultimately passed without amendment, and at the end of the month wage and salary-earners will individually begin to experience its effects, in the way of the 3d in the £1 levy. The Address-in-Reply debate, which was continued in the House of Representatives, provided no special features. Reform members devoted most of their time to answering critical Labour speeches, while the Leader of the Labour party reserved his attack and no-con-fidence amendment until this afternoon. Transport Bill Evidence. The Transport Licensing Bill has been referred to a special select committee, which will hear evidence from interests concerned. The committee consists of the Hon. W. A. Veitch and Messrs. A. E. Ansell, W. J. Broadfoot, C. H. Clinkard, A. Harris, E. F. Healy, A. E. Jull, H. G. R. Mason, D. G. Sullivan and K. S. Williams.