PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 4, 14 July 1916, Page 1

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MONDAY. JULY 10. WELLINGTON, July 10. The House met at 7.30 p.m. CONDITION OF THE RAILWAYS. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) asked the Minister for Railways (Hon. W. H. Hemes) a question as to the condition of the railways. He suggested that Mr Marehbanks. formerly engineer of the Manawatu Railway, should be instructed to make a thorough investigation of die condition of the railways since Mr Hiley took charge, and also that the Government set up a Coiumission of Inquiry. Hon. W. H. Herries said that so far as he was aware the rolling fetock was in excellent condition. He asked Mr Wiiford to give notice of the question, when he would have a report prepared. LEVLN-GREATFORD RAILWAY. The report of the committee on the Foxton Wharf and the proposed LeviuGreafiford Railway was laid on the table. The local members, Messrs Field. Newman, Guthrie, and Buick, commented ou the report. After Hon. W. H. Herries had replied' the report was ordered to lie on the table and be printed. WAIATJ LAND CLAIMS. Tho report of the Comimis&ioir on naUe lands at W'aiau (Southland) was laid on the table, and was under <lisoossion at the supper adjournment. Hon. W. H. Hemes, in reply, pointed out that the decision wa» one arrived at by two judges in whom the neatest conndence was shown. The report wa& ordered to lie on the table and be printed. LOCAL BILLS. The Auckland Harbor Board Empoivering Bill was considered in committee, reported with a slight amendment, read a 'third time, and passed. The 'Uaiiganui Borough Council Street Empowering Amendment Bill and the City of Nelson Loans Conveiaon Bill and Conserving Amendment Bui were read a second time. Both Bills weie reported from committee without aunendtaent, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 10.50 ip.rn. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, JULY 11. WELLINGTON, July 11. The Council met at,2.30 p-on. .MILITARY SERVICE BILL. .The Council agreed to a conference *ith managers of the House of Representatives on the Military Service Bill, and Hons. Sir F. Bell, O. Samuel, *od W. Morgan were appointed managers on behalf of th© Council. LOCAL BILLS. The following loca] Bills were revived from the House of Representa"veß and read a hrst time: —Auckland Harbor Board Empowering, Wanganui "rough Council Street Access Kffipower'ng Amendment, and City of Nelson «»n Conversion and Empowering Amendment. CONDOLENCE. A motion of condolence with the Speaker (Hon. C. J. Johnston) and his *»inily on the death of his youngest son ** the war was passed on the motion f Sir F. D. Bell, seconded by Hon. »• I). Ormond. The Council then adjourned a& a of respect at 2.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m.

-PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Sir. J. (;. Ward (Minister for Finance) laid on the tajbfo tbe annual Wfttement concerning the public buildjiigs of the Dominion,, which raised a •HPuS 1 discussion, the inadequate acwiomodation at the Christchurch, Tim- *■*, and Dunedin Post Offices being At ft looaJ menAe™. ilr G. J. Anderson put ■n an enmhaxic protest agaiiast' the lack j* expedition displayed in the erection °t the new Parliament Buildings, his intention being supported by Dr Newf*». Dr Thaoker and Messrs Forbes, HMjt. Witty, and Edward. Newlman. J?*'* 4' T - NS (Eastern Maori) "oatendad that work on Parliament wwotaes should bo stopped, or at least and the mowy expended on rc *fe m itJie bacHblooks. tton. W. Frawr (Minister for Public «gto). m reply,, art tia*,.j&* whok ™V ia we weotaon of Pariiaiasat

Buildings was due to the difficultyi of getting marble. Delay also occurred in getting steel required in the construction of the roof. He intended' to complete the building in accordance with the original design, so that it would be a credit to all concerned. Sir J. G. Ward (Postmaster-General) referring to amplications for expenditure on post offices, said ait was recognised' that during the war expenditure on buildings must be limited. There was no intention on the jua;nt of the Government ito go in for a Building progiaanme at the present time. The total amount paid for office accommodation at Wellington amounted to

£SBOO. not £IO,OOO, as had been stated. The paper was ordered to be printed. EVENING SESSION. THE FINANCE BILL. The House rasumed at 7.30, when Mr J. Anstey (Waitaki) continued the debate on the second reading of the Finance Bill. He thought the Government was to 'be congratulated on tho wide powers Parliament was pie-

pared to give it in carrying on the finance of the country, but thought the House was entitled to a further explanation than the Finance Minister had given them. No reason was given why £4,000,000 more than the amount stated in the Budget were required. He favored exemptions being reduced to £2OO. Referring to war profits he regretted- that the term "war profits" had been eliminated. He had not met a single fanner who objected to pay his share of necessary taxation, while he was sure some who ought to bear, their share of taxation would escape. Too

much power was left in the hands of the Commissioner, and he thought it advisable to jprovide for an Appeal Board. D.r ■Newman (Wellington Eatst) said the finance proposals were calculated' to cause consternation. He thought the finance Minister would have been wisely advised had the proposals first been submitted to the Public Accounib Committee. He criticised adversely several features of the Bill, and contended that a number of the smaller men of the Dominion were unfairly taxed when with rich men. He ■pointed out that the 'taxation was generally on thrift, iwhile he considered it should be levied on luxuries. It was a matter for regret that no attempts were made to pay off a,n v M indebtedness, although money was being accumulated as a reserve in London, especially when we had two years of unexampled prosperity. Mr T. K. Side.y. (Dunediu South) said that had the Government adopted a bold policy it would have coniandeered all primary products, but as this policy had not been carried out an export tax should' have been HnjWsed. Ma- "W. Nosworthy (Asbiburton) contended that the gradation of income tax over £2OOO should have been largely increased. He argued .ttot voluntary taxation, sach as on amusements and beer, should have beenuataMsed. He strongly objected to jotaiuee 35, .which gave the Minister poweir .to raise loans at a higher rate of Interest than prescribed by the Act ? 'and no person shall l>e concerned tp inquire whether the neeessitsji ba« arisen for the payment of any higher rate of interest. He also objected to a man being compelled'<t» take debentures in" payment for land acquired by "the Crown. Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn) commented on tiho fact tihat there was lying at the 'banks over £20,000,000 which was not paying interest, the loss to owners I being aibout £1,000,000 jwariy. He , adversely criticised some of the pro- [ posa's of the Bill. After the. sapper adjournment Mr Payne said he thought the House would * not tolerate the lowering of the exemption until as a matter of equity taxation was raised on higher incomes' Mr A. Harris (Waiteraatai) argued in favor of dafrerenttation for taxation Ipuaposes, between earned <and unearned incomes, and espressiedi himself in favor of lowering-the amount of exemption under the income tax. Ma- L. M. IsAtt (Christchurch No'-h) thought it impossible for a measure like the Finance Bill to be brought down without some inequities. He urge<j the taxation of amusement, and thought it would check waste and encourage thirifit. ' Mir A. B. Glover (Auckland Central) favored an. expo.*t duty on wool, meat, cheese, and other products. Mr C. J. Taftot '.rWiuka) T .har]<ed the Minister for ,vd piven to fxbndly soeteties, although it ditf not go as far as he. dteswed. r . Mr Youtig "(Wukato) moived the *d- . joummsttt of the debate, ar.d the House rose at 11.20 p.m.