PROPOSALS DISCUSSED

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 40, 16 August 1917, Page 3

PROPOSALS DISCUSSED

"THE LAMER ISSUES."

Li making reference lo the proposals, Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby deprecated the contention by Sir Joseph Ward that members should not introduce the larger issues. If they did not they would be guilty of a dereliction ot duty. He did not want to be guilty of Party criticism, but he intended to combat the protection of a ciass of people who ; were still mopping up large areas of country — increasing their hold on ths land of

New Zealand. If New Zealand was going to develop along sound lines it must have settlement, and still more settlement, and not legislation that waa going to protect the large landowners. Sir John Findlay asked the Minister the position regarding employees who wished to contribute to the war loan out of their salaries, and whether the Truck Act would have any application. Sir Joseph Ward replied that every, thing m this respect was provided for in the proposed Act. A proposal put forward by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson was that men who paid income tax should be able to deduct tho amount from their land tax.

Resentment was expressed by Mr. T. M. Wilford at the suggestion that an apology was necessary in regard to members bringing forward any proposals. The House had been asked to pass the War Purposes Loan Bill of £24,000,000 in about an hour and a-half or two hours, and he hoped that when tho Taxing Bill came down members would have time to give it proper consideration. Members wero vitally interested in the financial legislation and were anxious to get all the information possible on the FINANCE MINISTER'S REPLY. In replying, Sir Joseph Ward re- . pudiated any suggestion that members should refrain from criticism. What he had referred to were great party issues, which under present conditions could not be dealt with. What the National Cabinet, had to do was what it was created for —seeing the war through as far as New Zealand was concerned. Never in the history of this country had there been land taxation to equal what the landowner was caJled upon to provide under the present legislation. Mr. Hornsby: It has been pointed out that the rates slacken off at the wrong end. '

Sir Joseph Ward replied that under the combined proposals of the Government tiie large landowners would pay a great deal 'more than they had hitherto paid in the history of New Zealand. In normal taxation it would be open for anyone to advocate progressive taxation, or any other taxation that was desired. War interests only_ justified the Government in putting this taxation on the people for the purpose of saving this country, along wffch other parts of the Empire. As to the war loan, it was a perfectly clear proposal to raise £24,000,000. Mr. Payne interjected a remark which led Sir Joseph to retort-. "We had two hours' treadmilling which was very useful."

Mr. Payns: We did some good, we hope.

Sir Joseph Ward: "Yes, it did us good, and I hope it did us all good." Authority was asked to borrow £12,000,000 now, and when" the next loan was asked for it would be for £10,000,000, leaving a balance for war contingencies. It was impossible to tell what requirements would be.

Dr. Thacker: We are going to win, Sir Joseph!

Sir Joseph Ward : " I am sure we are going to win. I have never doubted it. Great Britain is not' going to turn back, and the Allies are never going to turn back." He remarked that the basis of last year's surplus was the basis upon which this year's surplus was proposed, and if things went right there should be a big surplus. Mr. Payne: Hear, hear. The papers were laid on the table.