PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 199, 24 July 1931, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY’S SITTING. NOTICE TO INTRODUCE BILLS. LICENSING OF ALPINE GUIDES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 24. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. Mr W. J. Jordan gave notice of his intention to introduce the Painters’ and Decorators’ Health Protection Bill and the Painters’ and Decorators’ Registration Bill. Replying to Mr Burnett, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle said that Cabinet had given consideration to the number of accidents in the Alps and the foothills, and an amending clause to the Tourist and Health Resorts Act would be prepared to give legislative effect to the recommendations of the Alpine and Mountain Clubs’ Conference relating to the licensing of guides.

|WAR MINISTERS’ PROFITS BILL.

In introducing the War Ministers Profits Bill, Mr McCombs outlined the steps taken by New Zealand during the war to deal with excess profits and compared them with those of Britain. He said that, while there had been safeguards in the direction of appeals against hardship in the Old Country, there had been no similar safeguards here. In consequence of this an injustice had been done to a valuable industry in his electorate, namely, the Woolston • tanneries, which had been considerably harassed, and while it had petitioned the House, and the petition had received a unanimous favourable recommendation from a select committee, the Government of the day had taken no action. Other firms, however, had made colossal profits. If liis bill were passed, the Commissioner of Taxes would be able to obtain information as a result of which lie would be able to advise the Government as to untapped sources of revenue. It might then be necessary for the Government to bring down a bill by Governor-General’s Message to put the matter on a proper footing. The passage of such legislation would be a means of doing justice as between firm and firm and be a means of finding additional revenue. In outlining the provisions of the bill Mr McCombs said that it provided that every person who had held, Ministerial rank in the NfiW- Zealand Government for the six years ended March 31, 1920, should, within three months of the . passing of the Act, make a declaration to the Commissioner of Taxes setting out the names of each New Zealand company of which he had been. a director during the eight years ended, March,. 1920. Details of the number of shares held by war time Ministers were abd to be given. After receipt of the declarations of Ministers' the Commissioner of Taxes was to be empowered to call upon each company named to produce balance-sheets and accounts for the three years ending 1915 and for the five years ending 1920. The Commissioner of Taxes would be called upon to assess the excess profits of the companies concerned and then the excess profits that accrued to the Minister concerned. Extra profits were to mean the .proportion of excess profits of the companies concerned to share capital and the amount by which directors’ fees, bonuses, etc., exceeded the average for the three years ending 1915. The object of the bill was to tax Ministers’ excess profits. Mr Langstone intimated that he would move an amendment when the bill was in committee to provide for an investigation of the war profits of all companies. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said that the simple reply to the references to the Woolston tanneries was that the whole question had been investigated by a Royal Commission over which Mr Justice Hosking* presided. Mr McCombs, replying, said that Mr Justice Hosking’ had pointed out that the commission was unable to deal with the question of reward for losses because that aspect had not been included in the order of refereiice. He again drew the House s attention to the recommendation of the select committee on the subject of the petition from the company. The bill was read the first time.

OTHER BUSINESS,

The Wellington City Empowering Bill (Mr Chapman) was introduced and read the first time. The remainder of the morning was occupied by the continuation of the debate on the second reading of Mr Ly&nar’s JMcat Export Control Amendment Bill, members differing on the question of whether the producers desired any change in the constitution of the board. - The House adjourned at 1 p.m.