THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Mataura Ensign, 29 September 1913, Page 3

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL A NATIONAL LOSS. BY TELEGRAPH. FROM OTJE SPECIAL CO-RESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. The death of Sir William Russell caused a break in the week's work. Sir William had taken so prominent a part in the history of New Zealand that it was right and proper for both Houses to adjourn in order to show the universal respect in which lie was held. Sir William was chairman of the Joint Defence Committee of both Chambers and his illness prevented the committee meeting as regularly and transacting business as expeditiously as the Government desired. This committee will now proceed with, its important investigations, which it is hoped will enable the Defence Minister to see his way clearly in future dealings with passive resisters. Sir William's experience in military and volunteer affairs would have been of great service at this juncture, more especially as his tactfulness and foresight would have enabled him to advise as to the most successful way of dealing with the recalcitrant lads of Christchurch. His demise is universally regarded by Parliamentarians as a national loss. TAXATION OF INCOMES.

The work of the week commenced with a series of small policy Bills which created more or less discussion. The subject of taxation occupied the groatei part of Tuesday. The policy of the Gov-ernment's'income-tax Bills is a sound one. It proposes to tax the large incomes, while at the same time asking the smaller man to contribute fairly. The Opposition attacked the measures upon their details rather than upon their principles. It cannot he denied that the principle of taxing incomes of over £2OOO at a higher rate than those below that sum is a sound one, but whether the gradations s'-honld cease at 1 that point is an open question. In England the income-tax fluctuates according to the needs of the Exchequer, but it' is seldom less than Is 6d on an income of £2-000. There is a surtax unon unearned incomes in addition to the ordinary tax leviable upon incomes that are earned. The New Zealander, therefore, has very litttle cause to complain of his income-tax assessment. Tt was to be expected that Messrs Russell (Avon), Isitt (Christchurch North) and others would condemn the application of the measure, but it was ce-rtainlv a strange experience to find them prepared to assist in passing the measure after their bitter onslaughts. Sir Joseph Ward's (Leader of the Opposition) criticism of the proposed taxation of the earnings of companies was delivered in a cool and statesmanlike manner. His followers backed him loyally, but they failed when their amendment went to a division. Some time ;<i;> the 'Sydney Bulletin' voiced the woes of fmall shareholders in public companies, and in all probability the Oppo:;i;io-i criticism arose from the hint givon_ in that paner. These shareholders certainly pay a .heavy tax upon their incomes, but on the other hand it lias to be remembered that they do not earn the money themselves and enjov in addition the security afforded 'by a larev corporation. There is reasonable ground lor the demand persistently made for the exemption of small lenders from the operation of the mot-tango tax. This tax presses very heavily upon those whoso incomes from mortgage investments amount to less than £IOO. There are difficulties in the way of a remission, but it certainly should be made if possible.

ARCHITECTS BILL. Tho Architects Bill was considered in committee. This Bill has given members a considerable amount of trouble. Lett era from every part of tho Dominion have been showered unon them asking that the original Bill be materially altered or, better still, -that it be thrown out. It was. massed on to a Seleet Committro which look r;,debtee just as scon see the Bill, thrown out. The clause which conferred special privileges on registered architects has been struck out. arrl /the builder who has for years drawn plans for his clients and constructed their ho:r.r« will not be interfered with. Local bodies also objected to the Bill as filching powers they possessed. The committee, altered tho clause referring to them. in. such a manner that an. engineer or town clerk will be able to design and superintend tho erection of buildings. The Minister (Hon. A. L. Herdman) who has charge of the measure introduced it at the request- of the Architects' Institute, and it was not a Government Bill, as vas sunposed at tho first.

CLERK OF PARLIAMENT. A rather peculiar position has arisen owing to the illness of the Clerk of Parliament (Mr Stowe). According to law he is the only person who can present a Bill to the Governor, after the measure has received the assent of both branches of the Legislature. Mr Stowe. has been very ill for some time and as a consequence there was no one who could legally carry out his duties. A special Bill had, therefore, to be passed to enable tho assistant clerk to carry on the business. Mr Stowe is a very old officer of Parliament and is now well advanced in years.

LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL. 1 The Local Elections and Polls Bill haa some -useful provisions; but it also contains others which although they cannot benefit the people, will increase •the cost of local government. The Bill passed through committee on Tuesday without material amendment. Members connected with local politics in the North Island were very persistent in their demands for a scrutiny of the polls after every election and they spoke of happenings at past elections which were not by any means to the credit of those concerned. As a consequence the country is saddled with a recurring expense to prevent abuses which are in most parts of New Zealand problematical. It seems unnecessary to insist that a scrutiny of a poll shall take place no matter what majority the successful candidate may have in order that a few people may possibly be detected as having voted twice. The scrutiny is necessary in the case of an flection for Parliament, and might serve a good purpose in the election of a Mayor; but it cannot be needed in the case of every local election in the Dominion.

R()yi) (;aiilick appointment™ The House debated the Royd Garlick appointment on Thursday! This matter bus been so much before the public of late that it has come to be regarded as more c less of a nuisance, and people are liable to turn away when it is ispoken of. There are several matters in connection with it, however, which are worth commenting upon. The

; decision of the Education Department to abolish the old systemof cadets ano substitiute physical training was come to after serious consideration by the officers in consultation- with the Minister. They took into their counsel several, medical men, who approved of the scheme. Having thus decided to adopt physical training—not Swedish drill, as was stated by Mr Wilford (Hutt)—it was necessary to obtain the (services of a thoroughly competent man to supervise tho Department. Undoubtedly Hon. J. Allen (Minister for Education) should have called publicly for applications for the post; but he did not do so and thus took upon himself the whole responsibility for Mr Garlick's appointment. Having decided that it I was in the interests of the children attending the schools that the Department should be established, and that Mr Garlick was the best possible man for the position, his salary had to be fixed. The Hirm of £6OO is a large one when compared with ths/t of tho headmaster of a State school; but Mr Garlick's position is vastly different from that of a headmaster- The headmaster may have a matter of 500 children under his care, but Mr Garlick has upwards of 150,000 to look after. He has to organise and carry to success the whole, system which has been inaugurated. His work of organisation ik vastly more important than his ability to teach, though of course that conus into consideration. Mr Garlick has been proved to be a man of exceptional ability in his profession; but that ho is an organiser remains to be seen. His wife is carrying on the business with which he was previously connected. This was part of tho agreement made with him by the Department, it Mr Garlick had not had- this right her husband would: not have u-KCJt tho position. Members of the committee were greatly impressed with Air Garlick's honesty when under crossexamination. They came to tho conclusion that he had nothing to hide, and that tic had taken the position because ho thought ho could bo of some use to the children of the Dominion. He was m a better way of making money in Ins business than he couid ever hope to bo as a servant of the State. Air Garlick has been made use of for party political purposes in order that tho Opposition mignt badger Mr Allen.

RURAL EDUCATION. The Minister for Education (Hon. J. Allen), in reply to a question the othei day, informed Mr Edward Newman (Rangitikei) that much more was being, done in New Zealand lor rural education than was generally known. He could not at present see his way to establish, tamp ...i'.ools in rural districts lor tho benefit of city children. Probably tho Wanganui Education Board has done more in the way of rural education than any other Board in the Dominion. Tho Southland Board is now pushing on with this subject, but there !t> so mucii on the syllabus at present that it is doubtful whether any real benefit f.-an bo derived by scholars at tlu rural clashes unless they are reheveu ol some of the other tasks. LABOR'S REVENGE.

Labor took its revenge on Thursday night for what members ol that pain, considered unfair tactics by the Government Wnips when the Labor Estimate, were before the committee- last week Several Labor men had gone into Bellamy' b- to have refreshments and during their absence the leaders on both sides agreed to take trie and eio.se down for the night. When the Labor men returned they found business at an end. They vowed vengeance and took it on. Thursday. They all talked more or less about Waihi, but that episode does not draw the I House. It is recognised that the Government acted in a common-sonso manner on that occasion, and it is impossible to work up any interest in the subject. THE COLOR LINE. n . : o color line was mentioned by Hon. A .. Nga-ta (Eastern Maori) on Thursi ..•;. night when the Imprest Bill was be- ;.■•■■ '.■■•■ x: House, iie uimplaine-d tha'. ■ .-. ii.. .-. d:d not allow their eliil- . nil-;! u> attend the same school as Ala on children. The iliniskr tuid that <■■; ainitk'-es had the_ right to exclude eiuldron who were afflicted with contagious -diseases. Tho white population had .ii.) objection to Alaori children attending their schools provided they complied wii-h tile rules of health and cleanliness.

EFFECT OF THE STONEWALL. Tho reeent stonewall has had a good effect in that it has caused the Government to expedite the presentation of re]X)rts. The Education report was circulated on Friday and the Estimates considered the same afternoon.

CLOSENESS OF PARTIES. A rather unusual course was pursued en Eridav afternoon when Mr Wilford (Hutt) challenged Mr Ma.lcolm'_s ruling on a question of relevancy._ The right of appeal, to the Speaker is generally allowed to anyone who may feel, aggrieved at a ruling bv the Chairman of Committees, but Mr Wilford has been so aggressive of late that the Government Party decided that it would not allow the appeal if it could bo stopped. As a coriseouence a division was taken, and Mr Wilford was refused the appeal by three votes. This shows how close the parties are at present. Messrs Coates (Kaipara), Rhodes (Thames), Clark ((Chalmers) and Millar (Dunedin West) voted with Mr Wilford. The closeness of parties makes the work of the Whips very arduous indeed.