NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 972, 12 November 1910, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

MORE NEW BILLS. THE WHITE OCEAN POLICY. At 2 o'clock this morning tho Primo Minister brought down another budget of new Bills. They were tho Stamp Duties Act Amendment Bill (dealing with stock exchange transactions), Workers' Dwellings Amendment Bill, Settlement of Lands as Fruit Farms Bill, Census Bill, Auctioneers Act Amendment, and Shipping and Seamen "Act Amendment.

The Shipping and Seamen Bill provides thai intercolonial ships are to pay tho rato of wages current in New Zealand, and there is to bo increased stamp duty of 25 per cent. 011 bills of.tailing 011 ships manned by Asiatics.

, The Census and Statistics Bill provides for tho appointment of a Government statistician. A census is to ho taken in 1911 and every fifth year afterwards, and there is also provision for annual statistics under various heads.

The Fruit Farm Settlement Bill provides that land may be set apart for fruit, farms not, exceeding 10,000 acres, for tho purposo of leasing or otherwise disposing of for fruit growing and other agricultural purposes. Allotments shall not exceed 75 acres, and not more than one shall be held by anyone person..

Tho Auctioneers Amendment Bill provides for a license feo of £40, and gives a right of repeal from the refusal of a local authority to grant liceusos.

■ Tho Stamp Duties Amendment Bill deals with the sale of mining shares through intermediate brokers, tho effect of failure to comply with tho requirements as to sale of mining shares, and the duty on sale of land, etc.

The Workers' Dwellings Bill provides that the Government r may buikl or convert any buildings into workers' dwellings, but the capital value of any dwelling shall not exceed £600. The modes of disposal ard (1) weekly or monthly tenancy at a rental of 6 per cent —5 per cent for interest and the balance for depreciation, plus insurance and rates; (2) renewable lease for 21 years with right of renewal, payment to be the same as under No. 1; and (3) agreement to purchaso by instalments. THE WIRELESS SYSTEM. ./'"Has any 'arrangement been made for the erection of a wireless station in New Zealand?" inquired! Mr. Wilford yesterday. The Postmaster-General replied that tenders had been called for the erection of wireless stations in four parts of the Dominion. Tenders had not yet been received, but it was hoped to have tho stations in working order ■ within the next twelve months. GOODWILL AND RENTAL. Complaint was made by Mr. A. S. Malcolm yesterday relative to tho operation of the Taxing Department in regard to goodwill and trade. Mr. Malcolm said a man would buy the goodwill of a lease which was to expire in three years.for £1200, but the Commissioner of Taxes maintained that the £400 a year, which was really equivalent to rental, and was part of his expenses, was not deductablo from his taxable income. ■

The Prime Minister, in . reply, said that in such a case £2000 bad been paid for goodwill, for three years, and tlion ceased. There was no way in which ono. could, call goodwill rental. . The £2000 might bo converted into rental, hut it was not possible to mako any concession. Tho question had been raised in the law courts, and tho judgment'was entirely in favour of tho Department. .Similar decisions had been given ili England. ' Mr. Malcolm: Then tho law needs amending. : ' THE PUBLIC WORK STATEMENT. The present session is truly an extraordinary one, and there seems to be no telling what_ a day may bring forth. Some little time back it was understood that the Public Works Statement would be brought, down yesterday. Then it was announced, that it would make its appearance on Tuesday, the 15th instant.. Yesterday, however, tho Hon. R. M'Kenzic gavo Friday, tho 18th instant, as tho date for tho bringing down of tho Statement. This announcement caused a number of protesting interjections, and Mr. Poland satirically asked if the Minister had lost his Statement. COURSE OF BUSINESS. It has beon s arranged that the committeo which is considering the Hine charges Bhould meet at li a.m. on Monday and sit all day. Tho House will meet at 10 o'clock to-day to consider local Bills, and it. is not proposed if it gets through those (of which there aro 25) to sit on Monday. Sir Ward explained, to tho House last nignt that it was, desirable the local Bills should bo sent on to the Legislative Council as soon as possible to avoid the possibilities of some not being passed owing to lack of time. Ho asked the House to sit either on Saturday or Monday morning to deal with local Bills, and his final suggestion (which was Saturday) was agreed to.

EAST COAST .RAILWAY. In' the House yesterday afternoon •-Mr. Poland (Ohinemuri) asked the Minister for Public Works whether ho would arrange to start the East Coast railway from tho Waihi end. Tho Hon. Mr. It- M'Keimie said ho was not ablo to anticipate' what would bo stated in the Public Works Statemont. Ho was very anxious that tho railway should bo started from that end. THE SESSION. "When will tho session end?" That is tho query one hears most frequently put by members and officials in and about tho Parliamentary precincts, but no one is prepared with an answer. Tho Hino Committee may block the way to an early ending of tho session. It is making slow progress, and when tho Maori witnesses come along with their interpreter, the progress may be still slower. Tho facts that Local Bills will bo taken this morning, and that tho Hine Committee will sit morning and afternoon on Monday will hasten mutters somewhat. This day week, or this day fortnight, aro spoken of as probable dates for the close of the session.