PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 48, 26 November 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

J HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ■- TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23. The House of Representatives met at 3.30 p.m. - SURTAX INSTEAD 01- PRIMAGE. The Prime Minister gave notice of jaotion for Friday to substitute a 2| per cent, surtax on duty paid on dutiable goods for the 1 per cent, primage '"upon the value of goods recently iml ported, with a view to meeting objec- ;. tions to the latter tax. The surtax, he said, would produce slightly more than the primage duty, and would be quite fair to everybody. On the suggestion of Mr F. E. ! Baume the Prime Minister asked leave : -to move the resolution to-day, so as [ to remove the inconvenience at pre- [ sent caused by the primage duty. Mr W. F. Massey (Leader of the Op- : position) said the proper procedure ;' was to bring down proposals to increase , taxation by Governor's Message. f The Speaker ruled that a Governor's I Message was unnecessary in the mat- | ter if the motion was moved by a Minister of the Crown. t The Prime Minister having obtained the leave asked, the House went into Committee of Ways and Means to consider the motion. ; Mr Massey said the surtax would I mean greatly increased taxation on ar- [ tides already paying heavy duties, such I as tobacco. The Prime Minister, when bringing the motion forward, ought to be able to tell the House what the result of the proposals would be. Members should nave had a day's notice to look into the matter. Sir J. G. Ward replied that the surtax on the total amount of estimated ; duty £2,600,000) would, if the duty were all collected in one year, produce £65,000.

Mr T. Taylor (Christchureh North) protested that the taxation should have been on luxuries in preference to necessaries. The Minister might have increased the tax on spirits and beer. Customs taxation on the whole was objectionable because it was indirect, and the average man was unaware how much he was paying. Mr George Laurenson (Lyttelton) contended that for the present purpose a surtax was advisable. On tobacco the surtax would amount to Id per lb and on liquor to 5d a gallon, while on necessities taxation was reduced. Mr James Allen (Bruce) considered the present proposals a great improvement on the primage duty. Mr T. E. Taylor moved an amendment to the effect that the Minister of Finance raise the necessary taxation by means of increased Customs and Excise duties on such articles of luxury as wines, spirits, beer, and tobacco. The amendment was lost by 46 to 13, and the motion was carried on the Toices.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. On. the House resuming in the evening the debate on the taxation resolution was further debated. At the report stage Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) moved as an amendment that portion of the taxation be raised bv means of a 25 per cent, increase in excise duty levied on beer. Mr A R. Wright (Wellington South) seconded : the amendment, which on division was negatived by 44 to 21. Mr Massey stated that under the new proposals spirits would pay £l4 960 additional and tobacco £14,007. 'He condemned the unbusinesslike methods of the Government, which w"ere responsible for the present difficulty. Sir J. G. W T ard expressed surprise at the attempt of the Opposition to make party capital out of the question. He would consider the propriety of abolishing the tax on tobacco and "putting it on to the land tax.

On the question for the third reading Mr Massey said he never liked the Dreadnought proposals, and if the Government had told the people it would involve taxation there would not have been so much enthusiasm about it. The country was committed to the expenditure without Parliament being consulted. As regards the Prime. Minister's threat to increase the graduated land tax. that had no effect on the Opposition. He thought a general election should precede taxation. He admitted frankly that he was making political capital out of the question, and would continue to do so.

Mr George Laurenson (Lyttelton) drew; a comparison between the proportionate amounts of taxation paid by the wealthy and the laboring classes, and said taxation had to be adjusted so as to fall on the shoulders best able to bear it.

Mr A. R. Wright said the cost of living had undoubtedly increased of late years, yet the proposals being made would increase taxation. The Prime Minister defended (the taxation proposals, which, he said, would be accepted by the people generally. He challenged. the Opposition to bring forward a motion traversing the Government's scheme, and at the same time offering 'an alternative one. The motion was agreed to. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills introduced by Message from the Governor were read the first time:—Land for Settlement Administration, Land Laws Amendments, Bill to make provision for a warship to King Edward, and Deceased Persons' Estates. STATE GUARANTEES. The House went into committee on the New Zealand State-Guaranteed Advances Bill. On clause 16, "cases in which money Biay be advanced," Mr Herdman (Wellington North) moved to strike out of section 1 the words "To mining companies and persons as guaranteeing mining advances under part V. of this Act." The amendment was lost bv 37 votes to 16. Mr Luke (Wellington Suburbs) moved to include holders of perpetual leases of lan-' owned by harbor boards and Jwal a ithorities as persons entitled to take advantage of the advances. This was lost on the voices. . A proposal to include persons wishlng to secure loans to construct waterraces for the purpose of irrigation was lost by 30 votes to 21. Mr Massey (Frankton) moved an amendment to. limit borrowing to £6,000,000, which was lost by 29 to 16,

In clause 18, "Sanction of both Chambers to the loan'" was altered to •"Sanction by the Lower Huose." Progress was reported and the House rose at 3.10 a.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AVEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24. The Legislative Council met in the pfternoon, after ft fortnight's adjournment.

SECOND READINGS. The Wanganui Roman Catholic Bill (Hon. J. B. Callan) and the Roman Catholic Archbishop 'Empowering Bill (Hon. A. R. LoughiMMi) were read the second time. REGISTERED ACCOUNTANTS. The New Zealand- Society of Accour.ii".,..s Bill, to enable persons whose applications for registration during the ]. .s!■ y l wore not granted by the .o apply to the Council for registration, was read the second time. MAGISTRATES' COURTS AMENDMENT. On the motion of the Hon. 0. .Samuel The Magistrates' Court Amendment Bill, requiring three days' notice of intention to defend an action, and also setting aside a full detailed statement of the claim in favor of a short statement in actions for goods sold and delivered, was read the second time. CHATELS TRANSFER. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Chattels Transfer Amendment "Bill. The discussion was adjourned and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met in the afternoon. . Ministers replying to questions stated That the Government will consider the advisability of introducing legislation abolishing grand juries. That the Prime Minister is not prepared to lay Mr Dinnie's statement traversing the finding of the Police Commission before the House, but there is no reason why a private member should not do so. That a Bill amending the Libel Act, with a view to giving the Press the same immunity from prosecution as is enjoyed by the Press of Great Britain, lias been prepared. That the establishment of a complete system of medical and dental inspection of school children is being seriously considered with a view to seeing what can be done.

That as the accuracy of agricultural statistics obtained under the old methods has been frequently questioned the Government have decided to adopt a new system which will be less costly more satisfactory.

LOCAL AND PRIVATE BILLS. -

The Wellington Harbor Board Bill (Mr "W. H. Field) was read the second time.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland Special Powers Bill (Mr F. E. Baume) was read the third time.

THE GOVERNOR'S SALARY

Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchureh North) in moving the first reading of the Governor's Salary and Allowance Reduction Bill said the emoluments of the Governor were out of all proportion to the work done and would maintain seventy working class families in comfort. He desired to see the salary cut down to what it had been previous to the increase during the period of prosperity in 1900. Sir J. G. Ward said that while he was anxious to economise he could not agree with Mr Taylor's remarks. So long as it was considered necessary to have a representative of the King in the Dominion the position should be adequately supported. Mr J. Hanan (Invercarsnll) said the Government when embarking on the scheme of retrenchment should begin at the most highly-paid officers. Mr Taylor in his reply said there was absolutely no reason for keeping up the Governor's residence at Auckland, and he hoped the time would cOme when the Dominion could select its own Governor.

The Bill was read the first time.

GRAND JURIES

The Grand Juries Abolition Bill (Mr T. E. Taylor) was read the first time. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.

STATE GUARANTEED ADVANCES. In the evening the House went into committee to further consider the State Guaranteed Advances'Bill. On clause 36, sub-clause 3, Mr W. F. Massey (Leader of the Op« oosition) moved that the Minister's annual return include particulars of the rate of interest to be paid on loans, and the date.

The amendment was lost by 35 to 20. On the motion of Sir Joseph "Ward clause 37, specifying the classes of land on which advances to settlers may bo made, had the following clauses added after paragraph (n): Crown lands held on lease for agricultural purposes under the Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894; (o) Crown lands hold on license for residence sites under the Mining Acts of 1811 and 1905; (p) Crown lands held on lease under the Mining Acts of 1898 and 1908; (q). Maori lands which have been transferred in trust for leasing to the race held under leases from a.Maori Land Board to under the Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900, for 21 years with the right of renewal. On clause 43, providing for a rebate ol interest when instalments are paid punctually, Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) objected to this as a vicious principle, and said he called for a division on the clause.

Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) agreed with Mr Taylor. Messrs Hogan, Hall and Buxton supported the clause. -

On division the clause was retained by 48 to six. After midnight on clause 59, subclause 3, Mr Taylor (Christchurch) moved to substitute £750 for £350 as the amount to be, granted to any one worker by way of loan to assist him in the erection of a home.

Replying to Mr Massev Sir Joseph Ward 6aid that he would prepare a clause preventing anyone from obtaining money from tho Department and re-lending it, and also to prevent money obtained by a worker from being transferred to the owner of the property, as had happened in tho case mentioned by Mr McLaren.

After discussion by Messrs Hogan, Fisher and Anderson the Prime Minister agreed to increase the amount to £450.

- Progress was reported at 12.50 und the House rose.