PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 October 1921, Page 12

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

LAND TAX

A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT

"Will the Minister of Finance favourably consider the question of extending the time for the payment of! land tax from November, 1921, i until • February, 1922?" asked Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) in the House of, Kepresentatives. "If this can be arranged, it will allow time ior< Qse produce from the land to be placed upon j the market and make the proceeds available for the payment of the tax." Mr Massey reijliea that the matter had been considered, and it was-feared that an extension of the time for the payment of any portion of the revenue this year .might be im- i possible. ' ( Sip; George Hunter urged the Prime Minuter to consider the matter again. It would be almost impossible for many farmers to pay the tar in November. They! would be in a better, position in JTebrfiary; since by that time the produce;|of their farms would hare heen soldS He hoped that the Prime Minister look'into the matter, with the |>bjeci of seeing if the time for the payment of the land, tax - could not be exte&fled until February

NURSES' SUPERANNUATION

M?. E. Newman (Manawatu) asked the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr) whether the Govern- ] merit, was in a position to give' effect to its promise that a superannuation fund for nurses would be established. Mr. Parr said in reply that the Health Department had gone very carefully into the matter and had framed a scheme. That scheme involved, a considerable State contribution. It had been Cabinet, and Cabinet was doubtful whether it could at the present time, finance a superannuation scheme of a character that he thought would be sound. It was no use establishing a fund unless it was actually sound. The Government had not yet come to a final decision. It was just a question whether the finances of the country -could,, stand a large capital contribution.- Probably a, conclusion would ba reached within a week or two, when he would give" the member a definite answer-. •.- ,- • . _ ; STATE LIMB KILNS. "Would the Government seriously consider the establishment of State lime kilns, so that the farmer should be supplied with lime at cost price " asked Mr J. McC.Dickson (Chalmers) in the House of Representatives. He said that at the present time companies in the south were charging 35s & ton * at the nearest railway siding, and the -question arose whether the companies ■were charging the maximum price on account of the fact that lime was conveyed free of charge. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy) replied that he would be pleased to look into the matter and see what could be done. The member would know that it was not the policy of the Government to- launch out into any more State enterprises than it had at present

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. Mr. J. H,. Hamilton (Awarna) recently asked .. the Prime Minister whether he-.-would give members of Parliament;an opportunity to place on tn^ Statute Book legislation abolishing tfie Arbitration Act and preference -to unionists.

Mr. Massey has replied: "It is hoped to introduce a compilation and a number of amendments of the Industrial txmeihation > and Arbitration Act i shortly, when the Questions raised by I the honourable member can be, discussed.*' --1 COASTAL FREIGHTS. - i '- Mr. Hudson (Motueka) has asked the' Government: "(1) What steps, if any, are being taken in connection with, the recent announcement by the Union fcteam Ship Company of an increase m coastal 'freights of 2s 6d and 3s 6d *f* ton? (2) Is such increase .considered Justifiable or not? (3) What control, if any, can the Government exercise m the interests of producers *i? T£ ga?d to;, s?. ch- heights ?" The Hori. JJ*. P. Lee (Minister of Industries and 1/ommerce) has'replied:r-?'(l) The mat5Sr I s -at Pre. seiit .under consideration. \£) information in the hands of the iJepartment of Industries and Commerce, shows that the Union Steam Ship Company's • vessels engaged in this trade «!d not aggregate their working expenses on the old rates, and, if the .services were to be maintained, increased charges were unavoidable. (3) The Government has power under the Board of Trade Act to control if necessary, coastal freights." '

RAILWAY TARIFF. The appointment of a commission to inquire into the .railway tariff with a view to removing anomalies was suggested in the House by Sir Georgfc Hunter (WaipawaV "If," replied the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, "the honourable gentleman* will furnish me with a statement of the anomalies that are attested to exist in the railway tariff' I will be glad to have the matter .reported on. In view of the financial stringency, I,do not consider that the setting up, at heavy cost, of a commission would be justified."