HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 29 September 1915, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

- WELLINGTON, Sep. 28. To Mr Young, the Minister" of Defence said that he was grateful to the Legion of Frontiersmen for their offer of a regiment of 500 men, but he could not say whether the offer, could be accepted. He had that day received a deputation froni Scotsmen, asking that a company raised by them, might bo accepted for the front. These units were becoming more numerous, and he fully expected to be waited on by the Irishmen in a few days, and possibly, the Welshmen might "be coming forward. Personally, he preferred to have a, national army of our own, but he would consult the Commandant on the point. . .

To* Mr Witty, the Prime* Minister said that as soon as the Finance Bill was disposed of he would make a statement as to what Bills would be gone on with. He hoped to bring the session to a close about the middle of next week.

The Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill and West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Bilt were referred to the Native Land Affairs Committee.

Hon. A. L. Herdman explained the amendments made in the Cook Islands Bill by the Legislative Council, which were agreed to.

The amendments made in* the Land Transfer Act Compilation Bill by the Legislative Council were also agreed to.

The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Footwear Regulation Act Amendment Bill, which, he explained, in no way interfered with the Original Act, but comprised a number of amendments necessary to make the original Act more effective. The Bill was read a second time without discussion.

Hon. W. Fraser moved the second reading of the Miners' Phthisis Bill.

THE BUDGET

In moving that the House go into Committee of Ways and Means to consider certain resolutions preparatory to the introduction of the Finance Bill, Sir J. Ward explained certain modifications proposed on proposals made in the Budget (as reported elsewhere). The altered taxation would, he said, yield the equivalent of the first Budget proposals, the whole amounting to about two millions. The land and income tax proposals of the Budget will stand. He asked that the Finance Bill he put through all stages. The resolutions were adopted. In the evening, on the motion that urgency be given the Finance Bill, Mr McCombs protested against the passage of a Bill of such importance without members having had an opportunity to study 'ts contents.

Mr Pearce asked if the Government would be satisfied with the second reading that night. The Premier said the country wanted the measure, and it was necessary in •the public interest. Sir. J. G. Ward said the House had already approved that two millions of increased taxation must be provided. His duty that night was to explain how that proposed taxation was intended to be raised. Members must recognise that sacrifices must be made if we were to do o'.-r share m the great war. Sir Joseph then went through the (various clauses hi the Bill, the provisions of which gave effect to the proposals in the Budget, plus the new proposals in lined at the afternoon sitting. Mr Pearce said he was pleased that the suggested duty on kerosene had been withdrawn; he would have preferred a direct duty on some article to the proposed primage duty, and he intended to a heavier tax on beer.

Mr McCombs commented on the fact that the National Government had suggested such a large amount of increased indirect taxation, which must result in a further advance in the cost of living. He considered there should have besn further additions to the land and income tax.

Mr Nosworthy said that in this proposed taxation the working people of the Dominion had got off lighter than any other class. He quoted from the British Budget to show how the new taxation had affected the Home working man, and he contended that the city lands should have been included in the increased land taxation. He advocated a further increase in the beer tax.

Mr Isitt said that the city man had to bear his full share of general taxation. He contended that the cry that the farmer had to carry most taxation was all "niffle." He'welcomed the proposal to tax beer according to its alcoholic strength.

Mr Hine moved an amendment with a view to increasing the tax on beer, and relieving the primage duty by the amount provided by such increase. Mr Webb urged,as a protection to the coal industry, a duty on imported coal, which would produce £50,000. He expressed disappointment that more had not been taken from profit-rnongez-s," who were exploiting the people.

Mr Wilkinson urged the Government to cut down expenditure, so as to effect all economies possible. Sir J. G. Ward, sneaking to the amendment, said thp National Government had a very difficult task to perform. The proposals of the Cabinet were distinctly favorable to the workers, lie complained that Government was bing misrepresented outside the House, so as to prejudice a certain section -ngf-inst the" proposals in the Bill. He distinctly denied that workers were being unduly taxed. He contrasted the changes proposed with those enacted by the Home Government, and claimed that- the spirit which promoted the formation of the National Government should prevent the Bill twins- delayed by the introduction of side issues. He denied that, primage duty would press heavily upon the communiy, and quoted illustrations in support of his contention. Referring to the amendment, he said it proposed to put £50,000 of revenue from beer in place of £200.000 of other revenue. No single political party could have hoped to carry a War Budget through. Members rniVht recopnise this, and defer the voicing of. differences until a more suitable occasion. -

Mr Payne said h G recognised that the Budget represented an nttovrint to provide extra taxation without mating taxation unduly oonressive on any class.

_After the Telegraph Urfice clSsed Mr Hme s amendment was put, Taut as no second teller could be foM supporting no division wa£ taken ■«« il S6e?nd readmg was then carried on thejoices, and the House went into committee on the Bill '?!£? rt-l Cl™f\ OUt as an indication that the beer duty should be increased to pel per gallon. The amendment was lost by 48 to 9 and tne remaining clauses passed without opposition. At 3.30 the Bill was reported with verbal amendments moved by the Minister, and on the House resuming the amendments made were agreed to irvW^fW? the th:rd reading Mi .\\ ebb defended the Labor party against, tne charge that they favored single tsx.

Mr McCombs declared that as the result of the Budget the cost of living would be raised by a million pounds! or at the rate of £5 per family Messrs Pearce, Harris, Dr Newman, and Mr Field (Nelson) also spoke S.r Joseph Ward, m reply, said no sane man could say- the Budget put burdens on the working classes. Compared with woikars in Britain, the imposts put upon them were extremely light, and therefore criticism by ex~ tremiste inside and outside the House was not deserved. As a matter of tact the Budget was .taking £332,000 irom the landowners of the Domiuion, and that, he thought, was sufficient Jor one session. Anyone who wanted to take more came near to beino- a single taxer. With regard to the increase in beer duty, he resisted it because information in his possession convinced him that if the duty was increased many of the smaller breweries must close, and leave * the larger breweries in a more secure monopoly than ever. The change in the method of assessing beer duty was entirely at the- request of Customs officials, arid it was not true that brewers had met members of the National Cabinet for theTOrpose of arranging the rate. The third reading was then carried, and the Bill nassed

The House rose at 4.55 until 7.30 p.m. » ■ .