GALLERY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 236, 4 September 1929, Page 6

GALLERY NOTES

DAY IN PARLIAMENT. EFFECT OF PRIMAGE DUTY, (Bv Telegraph —Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) said m the House of Representatives to-div that a merchant had told him that a primage duty of 1 per cent- could not be passed on, but that 2i per cent would be passed on and this would mean a great deal to the people. He mentioned an instance where a Papatoetoe local body matter would result in the extra cost being passed on to the ratepayers. A business man had also stated that the extra duty would be passed on to the amount ot 2J pei Ce Mr G. C. Munns (United, Roskill): What is the name ? Mr Samuel: What has that to do with you? The merchant was a man concerned with a big Lusuiess. Mr Samuel said he would sooner take the word of Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) on what the extra cost would be instead of that of Mr Munns The extra duty would mean that £I,SUU.OUO more would have to be paid by the people, and the increase actually would not be 1 per cent but 5 per cent. (United dissent). Mr Samuel said that the Reform Party had left the Treasury benches with a free breakfast table, and he maintained that the United Government, by imposing an extra duty on American motor cars and picture films, could have obtained £400,000 per annum instead of increasing the primage duty and. thereby increasing the -cost against the poor people of the country. LAND TAX PROPOSALS. There is-a general concensus of opinion inside and outside of Parliament that the Government will modify its land taxation proposals, especially in regard to mortgages, as the result of the Opposition criticism. A suggestion of ail amendment was made in a speech delivered to-day by Mr 1. \\ • McDonald, a strong supporter of the present Government. He suggested (1) that there should be complete exemption in regard to £SOOO and under, (2) that from £SOOO to £IO,OOO capital value the proportion of mortgage to be exempted would be the proportion which the unimproved value bore to the capital value; (3) that above £10,090 unimproved value the exemption be reduced by £2 to every -1 ot unimproved value until the exemption completelv disappeared at £14,000. THE MYSTERY CABLEGRAM. In his speech in the House this afternoon Mr Samuel (Reform member for Thames), commenting on the mysterious cablegram on the Treasury files, regarding loans in London, which Sir- Joseph Ward still refuses to produce, said that if any arrangement has been made by the late Minister ot Finance it would not be binding on the present Government. Apparently, however, the Prime Minister intended to stick to his story no matter wliat happened. RENTALS PAID. The Government pays £23,190 per annum for housing various branches of the Public Service in Wellington. The largest sum is paid for premises in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute building, viz., £7082 a year. The total of £23,190 is exclusive of premises rented by the* Railway Department and tlie Post and Telegraph Department. The rental paid by the Railway and Tourist Department for premises in tlie Wellington Publishing Coy’s buildings is £1144 per annum. NEW ZEALANDERS IN PALESTINE. Mr A. Hamilton (Wallace) wants immediate inquiries made regarding the safety of New Zealanders in Palestine. He says that there are many unxipus people who would like to be assured that all is well with their relatives in this disturbed country. ADVERTISING POSTERS. Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) is asking for a censorship of picture film advertising posters. SULTANA RAISINS. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) wants preference given for sultana raisins us against those coming from Australia which are produced by returned soldiers in the Murray River district. SENIOR CADETS. The number of senior cadets connected with the schools is 14,911. The number unconnected with the schools is 13,846. STINGING REBUKE. During the course of his speech on the Budget debate to-night, Mr P. Fraser, too leading Wellington Labour M.P.. administered a stinging rebuke to Mr- McDougall, the member for Mataura, wlio defeated Hon. G. J. Anderson at the last election. The lion, member, said Mr Fraser, had told them the kind of boots he wore, though that could not be regarded as a question of national importance. He also said something about a preference for ladies with bare legs. (Laughter.) He would rather (to quote his exact words) “have ladies with bare legs than silk stockings.” (Laughter.) He (Mr Fraser) thought that perhaps the member for Mataura might be considering the starting of an anti-stocking campaign. (Laughter.) The hon. member claimed to be an authority in good taste in speaking; that was the most delightful joke of all.