YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18335, 24 July 1923, Page 9

YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Hon. R. F. Bollard gave notice of his intehtion to introduce the Registration of Aliens Suspension, Uangitikei Land Drainage Amendment, and Fisheries Amendment Luis. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time Savings Bank Amendment Bill (Mr Massey), Dunedin"'District Drainage and Sewerage Amendment Bill (tho Hon. v\. D. Stewart), Whangarei Harbor Board Vesting and Empowering Bui (Mr Murdoch). , The Cook Islands Amendment Bill was, on tho motion of Sir Maui I'omare, read a second time pro foima, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The Hon. W. D. Stewart moved the second reading of tho Insurance Companies'’ Deposits Amendment Bill, which lie explained, was intended to separate the income derived from moneys deposited with the Government as trading security from their ordinary trading profits, it being generally conceded that it was unfair to collect income tax on am other basis. The second reading was agreed to without discussion. STAMP DUTIES. Mr Massey moved tho second reading of tho Stamp Duties Bill, which, he explained, was passed last year, but never brought into operation because certain defects bad been in its text. The law now was being amended and consolidated, the principal amendment being in part V., which referred to duties ou mortgages. Under this Bill only mortgages on land wore dutiable. Mr Wilford said tho Bill was so highly technical that no one could _ undo) stand it from tho description given of it by tho Prime Minister, and ho suggested that it should bo referred to the Statutes Revision _ Committee, whore those acquainted with such matters could carefully examine the details of the Bill. Ho protested against the (proposal to tax the lease with the right of purchase as if it wore a competed sale. The purchase might never be completed or not completed 'for many years, and such a transaction should be. taxed as a transfer. If UlO Statutes Revision Committee took i; ridenco on that point be felt confidant it would amend the measure in in the direction suggested, by him. The Hon. C. J. Parr said that if such a duty were collected there was provision for a refund in the case of a purchase not completed. Mr Wilford: That is the wrong way round. The duty should not bo collected until the purchase is made. Tho Hons. D. Buddo. J. A. Hainan, and Mr T. Iv. Sicley criticised tho Bill, which Mr Massey, in reply,_ promised to refer to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Bill was read a second time, and referred to this committee. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Tlic Hon._ W. Nos worthy moved the second reading of the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill. He said he thought the time was not far distant when they must have an overhaul of the whole of the legislation relating to noxious weeds; but there was no time

a do that this session, and hence ho was introducing the Bill, which cont.'.'iiccl a few minor amendments, principally in the direction of authorising local bodies to declare certain plants not to be noxious weeds.

.Mr Forbes said the House ought to be told whether this Bill stiffened or weakened tho administration of the original Act. He feared tho Canadian thistle was likely to spread dangerously, and he thought that local bodies should not be given power to declare that„it was_not a. noxious weed. Hand in hand with this legislation should go tho Pure Seeds Bill, and he wanted to know what had become of it.

-Tho Minister, in reply, combated tho suggestion that ho was weakening the administration of the Act; but there was not the least use in trying to enforce the law in those districts where it could not be enforced. There were some districts in the dominion in which every settlor would be mined if the Act were strictly carried out. They could not work a cast-iron Act, anil therefore ho preferred to leave the necessary powers of discretion with the local bodies, which were familiar with local conditions, and knew how best the Act should he administered.

The Bill was read a second time, The House rose at 11.30 p.m.