FINANCE BILL

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 7

FINANCE BILL

" SUPPLY " PROVISION AGAINST LATE SESSION RATES PENALTY REMISSION SANCTIONED [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.l WELLINGTON, April 1. To provide against the possibility of the main session of Parliament not opening this year until September, the Finance Bill introduced in the House this afternoon contained a clause extending the period for the provision of supply until September 3D. Otherwise, as there would have been no parliamentary authority for the expenditure of public miimeys after the end of June, it would have been necessary to call Parliament for the purpose of passing an Imprest Bill. Mr Coates, when briefly explaining the provision to the House, said it stretched the proposed recess a little because strong representations had been made by members that after the lengthy session this year there was no reason to meet too early. Mr Mason: You are not going to push us into summer again? “ We hope not,” replied the Minister. Authority to local bodies to remit the 10 per cent, penalty on overdue rates levied for the financial year ended March 31, 1935, is contained in the Finance Bill. If the penalty has been paid by ratepayers there is power to make a refund. It is also possible under the new provisions to either remit the extra charge,, or to postpone its collection where it has been levied. Any remission already made is validated. Similar powers tire' cquferred on the Minister of Lands in respect of drainage rates on the various swamp drainage schemes.

Two sessions of Parliament in’ one year involve the necessity of a slight revision of the scale of members’ travelling allowances to meet the extra cost fo them, and, this is provided for in the Bill, as also the expenditure by local bodies in farewelling Lord and Lady Bledisloe. To facilitate the setting up of a guarantee fund by the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board in connection with the export of fruit, the Finance Bill authorises the establishment of a special reserve fund by the board for this purpose It will be built up by contributions received by way of levy or in respect to the sale of fruit, or otherwise such moneys as the board determines. The board is empowered to fix the maximum amount which may be advanced to producers in respect of their export of fruit, to make different advances in respect of different producers, or various grades, kinds, or varieties of fruit. The clause adds: “ If in any year the net price realised on account of any producer on the sale of fruit exported from New Zealand is less than the total amount advanced to him on account of that fruit, the difference shall be deemed to be a loan from the guarantee fund. Every such loan shall bear interest at such rate, if any, as the board may determine.” The appointment of Mr Justice Frazer as deputy-chairman of the Executive Commission of Agriculture having created a difficulty regarding His Honour’s rights to superannuation as a Supreme Court Judge, the Finance Bill contained a clause preserving those rights in the same way as if he had continued to hold his original office. It is also provided that upon his resignation from the position of Jqdge of the Arbitration Court His Honour shall be deemed to have completed twenty years’ service, and to have become entitled to the usual superannuation allowance, excepting that while lie receives from his new' office, or any other office under the Crown, a salary not less than _ that payable to him as deputy-chairman of the Executive Commission, no superannuation allowance shall be paid. In the event of his relinquishing his new position at any time prior to the expiration of five years he shall be entitled to other employment under the Crown at a salary not less than that of deputy-chairman, or, as compensation lor the loss of office, a sum equal to the difference between the superannuation allowance payable for that period and the salary he would have been entitled to receive. In the event of his resignation without the consent of the Governor in Council, His Honour at the option of the Crown may he appointed to an office under the Crown at a salary not less than that now paid to him as Judge of the Arbitration Court, or be entitled to receive superannuation allowance at the maximum rate, reduced by onc-twenty-fourth of the amount of his annual salary as judge by which his term of office as deputy-chairman has. fallen short of the period of five years.