THE DOMINION'S PROSPERITY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2555, 1 September 1915, Page 7

THE DOMINION'S PROSPERITY.

. ABLE TO BEAR THE BURDEN. Mr. C, J. PARR (Eden) congratulated tlie member for Hutt oil a very patriotic speech, but said he had strayed into realms into which other speakers could not follow liim in discussing tliem in conjunction with .the financial proposals of the Government. Ho (Mr. Parr) took strong exception to a suggestion by Mr. Wilford that Britain's methods of financing tho war were not so good as those of Germany. To what had the abrogation of, thb law of supply and demand brought Germany? To ■ national bankruptcy. There wore six hundred millions of paper monoy circulating in Germany, and economists said tliat at the end of tho war. Germany must of necessity become a bankrupt country. What was the significance of the deputation -of bankers who interviewed the Kaiser eome -weeks ago but this ? And the Emperor consoled them with: the statement that-the war -would bo over in October. No Minister of Finance had ever faced such a difficult and disagreeable problem as that with -which Sir Joseph Ward was faced. He was short of two millions, which ho had to find, and ho thought Sir Joseph Ward liatl set about his task with decision and /with discretion. He did not agree with all tho proposals, but in general tho Treasurer had sought to avoid burdening unduly the small men in the country. One proposal, of which he approved was tho placing of an impost of 50 per cent,, on enemy goods, but li 6 feared that'the J.duty -was not heavy onougli. Britain's..

policy in Tegard to trade with Germany for years had teen suicidal. Referring to the land tax proposal—to place 50 per cent, on tlio graduated tax on country lands—ho thought it a .perfectly fair onoj intended to reach those who Had made profits out of the war. Big Incomes Taxed. Likewise the great bulk of tlio increased income'tax would bo'bonio by the men with big incomes. It seemed to him that the incomo tax payers in finding a total of £550,000 were doing pretty well, so well that it was failthat a little should bo done by others. As an old friend of the farmer he feared on first examination of the Budget that the proposal to tax tlio incomo of farmers, who had also paid land tax, was unfair. He still .said that the principle was a precarious one, which should not be introduced into our taxation proposals unless there was sound reason for it. « On closer examination, _ however, ha was satisfied now that his first fears were groundless. The exemptions woro so generous that he ventured to say that not more than one farmer in twenty would have to pay income tax. It was a tax on the squatter rather than on the farmer. , These wealthy landowners .would be hit hard. Mr. Fletcher: Not hard enough.' Mr. Parr: But it is ; hard enough for tlio present. It may,, be necessary— I fear that it will—to' liit them harder in tlio future. ' Dealing • with the extra postal and telegraph charges, Mr. Parr thought that the extra $d. on the ordinary postal rates was quite justifiable, for there was not. a ,more. generous postal ■rate anywhere than in the Dominions. He thought the initial charge should be 7d. and not Bd. for telegrams. The increased Customs wero to bring in £285,000, and while he did not object' to the tax on motor-cars lie took exception to the 4d. per gallon on kerosene. It-would not hit the big man, but tho small farmer was going to feel it. very much. He, suggested that 2d. only ' -should' be imposed,. There were many who thought that the beer tax might be increased, and he was of that mind. He also thought that picture theatres and pleasure resorts should be taxed, for those who sought pleasure should not object to a fair, impost for taxation. The extra tax on cheques seemed to him irritating, and he took exception to the ss. per cent, stamp duty on mortgages and the 10s. release fee. These minor taxes, he thought, might be reconsidered. He quite agreed with the suggestion that tho inauguration of the 1 portfolio of Supplies would do . a. great deal to prevent. waste in: war expenditure. If such a portfolio was created there would be a check upon tho expenditure. The country was in a good position to stand the taxation, for no country in the world'was in. a sounder financial position than New Zealand. The country, he had no doubt, would be able'to find more if it was - required. (Applause.) . . ■ . . THE DEBATE ADJOURNED. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton).moved the adjournment of the debate. . Mr:-; J. M'OOMBS (Lyttelton) said that a "very strange procedure was accepted, for Mr. Speaker had found tho eye of two. supporters of ; the National Government. It was a,new departure. ' The Right Hon. -W: F. MASSEY (Prime Minister),: referring to the last remark of the member for - Lyttelton, said that it was not a new: departure to .call on two speakers only, i Mr. M'Combs: I said two supporters' of tho Goveriuifont. Mr. Massey: "I hoped that all members in. the House were supporters of the National Government." Ho > had hoped that all party was dono away with. . He reminded the-House that on the last occasion On which he had had the opportunity of. opening the debate as Leader of the Opposition there were only two speakers, and the House adjourned, straight away. Mr. SPEAKER explained that he had called on the first two members, who. had caught his eye,- and he had no other course tnan to put the motion when the member for Riccarton moved the adjournment. ■ i When the motion was put, Mr. M'Combs was the only member who called 1 "No." He contended the "Noes" had the motion. Mr. Speaker: Do you call for a'divi-' sion?. ' Mr. Massey: Now you lose your right of reply. (Laughter.) . _ Mr. Speaker put the motion again, and it .was carried without dissent. The House rose at 9.13 p.m. till . 2.30 p.m. to-day.: