POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 2

POLITICAL POINTS

[Fuo.u Oue Paeliamektaex Br.roKTER.I WELLINGTON, August 25. THROTTLED BY TAXATION. An independent note was struck by Mf Harris in stressing tho necessity for a reduction of taxation. The life of tho nation was being throttled by tho excessive burden it was carrying. The only thing that was going to bring this country back to normality was a substantial reduction of taxation. Ho would like to s.co it done this session, and ho believed it could be done. Ho agreed with tho Taxation Committee that the limit of taxation had been passed, but the Budget showed no signs of reducing it. High taxation was hampering industry, aggravating unemployment, and retarding enterprise. Ho thought the maximum income tax should be reduced from 7s 7d to ss. Ho doubted whether there would bo any reduction in tho amount of taxation collected. It did nob matter what taxation was levied; only the income that was earned could be taxed. * » w « EARMARKS AND BRANDS, Inquiry was made- by Mr Burnett today whether tho Government proposes to introduce legislation dealing with earmarks and brands. Tho member suggested that before the Bill was introduced it should bo referred to tho agncultural and pastoral associations, anal care taken that the possessors of historical brands in tho South Island would not ho interfered with. Tho Hon. W. Nosworthy stated that tho Bill for tho purpose was under consideration as a result of representations, but ho could not, say definitely that it would bo proceeded with this session, as tho matter was too complicated to hurry. Ho might canso more trouble by accepting advice without consideration. He agreed that pastoraliets on high country whoso brands liad become historical should be protected, and tlie Bill would not interfere with them. « o * » CORNSACKS AND WOOLPACKS. Tho rumored shortage of cornsacks and woolpacks was brought under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture by Mr M'Leod, who asked if inquiry _ would be made as to supplies for the coming season. The Hon. W. Nosworthy promised to make inquiries, but he had no information at, the moment. Mr Forbes; Keep an ere on the price if there is a scarcity. Mr Nosworthy: Yes, that point will bo remembered. » # » # A WELLINGTON KEYLOCK. “There is in this city at least one Shylock who is exploiting very poor people,” said Mr Mitchell to-day in bringing a striking case under Ministerial notice. Mr Mitchell stated that a young man had told him that in September last, his mother borrowed £2O on her furniture, and next month another £lO. lit just under a year sho had paid back £2O 8s 6d. but still owed £55 7s 6d, whereas the original amount borrowed was only £3O. Mr T. W. Rhodes; It is not an isolated case. Mr Mitchell: No; not by anypreans. It should be put a stop to. Will tho Minister go into it, and say whether it comes within the four corners of tire law, and if it docs will he take steps_to protect these unfortunate and ignorant people ? Mr Sykes: Has ho a foreign name? Mr Mitchell; Yes! Tho Hon. K. P. Lee (Minister of Justice) promised. to investigate the case. «■ * * PURGING THE ROLLS. Innocent victims, even members of Parliament, are likely to get their names struck off tho rolls. The member for Waitomo testified to this fact this afternoon as an illustration of his complaint to the Minister in charge of the ElectoralDepartment that thousands of.names had been struck off the dominion rolls that wore entitled to remain. Mr Jennings, to the amusement of the House, related, that he noticed his name was missing from tho New Plymouth roll, and when ho questioned the returning officer about it the latter said he did not i:npw anybody of tho name of W. T. Jennings. Inquiry showed that local farmers who had voted at the last three elections had been struck off. At To Kuili ho found similar instances. The Hon. Mr Massey, in reply, hoped the people would take the trouble to check the rolls. As for another point raised by Mr Jennings, the law stood just as it did before; that was to say, anyone could go along to the returning officer and certify that his or her name had been struck off when it should bo there. Ha would he permitted to vote, and the matter would It© cleared l up afterwards. * # * -» MILITARY PENSIONS. Mr Massey informed Parliament to-day that tho appointment of the Military Pensions Commission was before Parliament. Last Saturday two members ha.d been appointed, while a magistrate had been approached to act as chairman. As soon as his reply came the personnel ot the Commission would be announced. * * * » THAT EMPTY TREASURY. Tho member for Lyttelton sot out jo prove to-day from official figures that the statement made regarding the empty condition of tho Treasury when unemployment commenced last year was, ns he boldly called it, a lie. He stated that when dismissals started in the public service there was £4,920,000 in the Consolidated Funds in actual cash, while having regard to securities as well the total ballances in hand were eight and a-half millions, so that when a certain Minister told a, deputation that the Treasury chest was empty it was a wilfully misleading and fake statement. Tho Government created unemployment by its policy of dismissal, and caused tho general impression of slump, which did harm to business in all directions. It was demonstrable from the Budget figures that the talk about, an empty Treasury was a lie. The Hon. Mr Nosworthy called (he Speaker’s attention to a breach of tho rules of debate, and when tho matter was discussed between tho parties concerned it was shown by Mr Speaker that no member had the right to reflect on any member of Parliament, oven if ho was not in the Lower House. Mr M'Combs withdrew his strong statement, but substituted a somewhat milder condemnation, and also accused the Minister of Works of advising local bodice to curtail operations for tho avowed pyrpose of bringing down wages. ,