BILL EXPLAINED

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1917, Page 3

BILL EXPLAINED

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SPEECH

AN 1 INTRICATE MEASURE.

Sir Joseph Ward, in explaining the Bill, said that it was a very important one, dealing as it did with the proposals in the Budget-in regard to taxation. It consisted of 77 dances and dealt with various forms of taxation. There would be one progressive land tax levied on improvements of all lands without deduction for mortgage. There was a special exemption granted for the mortgaged land where the unimproved value did not exceed £2000. This meant a concession to small fanners of from £80,000 to £100,000. The rates on Native lands would bo half the charges on other lands. The taxes on land belonging to re-Hgious bodies were to be half of those on other lands, and the same applied to land held by sports bodies, Uudor tho Bill Mio proposal was, in iweerteiniiig the taxation ot wwrailta,

to provide for freedom of taxation on the cost of the timber to the sawmiller The taxation proposals as far as relief to be given to the shareholders in small companies was concerned provided that where a shareholder received only £300 a year in dividends a refund of the whole of the tax paid by him on that dividend would be made. Complete exemption, continued Sir Joseph, was made for naval and military men who earned incomes beyond New Zealand.

BREWERS' LICENSES.

There were important clauses dealing with brewers' licenses, and if there was any attempt at further legislation in this direction it would be his duty to ask that the clause be struck out. Mr. M'Combs: Applying the gag! ■ A member: Why should members be threatened? Sir Joseph Ward: " I have no intention of applying the gag.' The proposals in the Bill were required to bring about a certain change, but it was no amendment of the Licensing Bill. It was a section which made the law apply to brewers in certain respects. Provision was made for an m&'ease of Is in spirituous toilet preparations and flavouring essences. Also for a minimum rate of 5 12-16 d per gallon on New Zealandbrewed beer, a maximum of 6d, and another Id in addition to that proposed in the Budget. It proposed to bring brewers' licenses into line with the Licensing Act, and to provide for penalties in regard to offences committed against the Act. _ There-was a section in the Bill providing for the new-duties to be applied, if necessary, to the Cook Islands. Provision was also made for a shilling extra per gallon on spirits. AMUSEMENT T-^X.

Dealing with the matter of the amusement tax Sir Joseph Ward_ explained that there was a provision in the Bill applying to taxation on different forms of entertainment. A member: Does that'apply to races: Sir Joseph Ward: Yes, to racing and all forms of sport. Mr. Wilkinson: What about complimentary tickets? (Laughter.) _ Sir Joseph Ward: I don't think there are many. I don't want to got into trouble over the maiter. (Laughter.) A member: What will it yield? Sir Joseph Ward: "About ; the amount estimated in the Budget—about £90,000." He 1 added that many of the picture shows did not pay dividends at ail, a few 3i per cent., and in an individual two or three cases as much as 20 per cent. The last-named came in under the income tax, and paid a large amount. Mr. Wilford: By wav of income tax? Sir Joseph Ward: "Yes, by way of income tax." Even in war-timo people wanted to have an opportunity of going to pictures, and he thought that, moderate as the proposal was, it wculd obtain the revenue mentioned in the Financi&l Statement.

The Minister explained the clause of the Bill dealing with compulsary subscriptions to the War Loan (as reported under a soparato heading) and was loudly applauded as ho resumed his seat. The Bill was read a first 'time, and the date of the second reading was set down for Thursday.