PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13210, 29 September 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

Press Association- —By Telegraph. WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. In the Legislative Council several Bills were advanced a stage. In the House after the suspension of Mr Wilford In reply to Mr Poole the Minister of Mines said the question of subsidising oil wells was under consideration and before a decision was come to the question of employing Austrian labour at such wells would also i be considered. In reply to Mr Witty the Postmas-ter-General said he could not delay imposing the surcharge on letters for a few days as the amount of taxation being lost was so great that he could not make any discrimination. In reply to Mr Yourtg, the Minister of Defence said he was grateful -to the Legion of Frontiersmen for the offer of a regiment of 500 men, but could not say at that point whether the offer could be accepted. He had that day received a deputation from Scotchmen asking that a Company raised by them might be accepted for tHe'front. These units were becoming more numerous and he fully expected to be waited <in by Irishmen in a few days and possibly 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. _ In reply to Mr Craigie he said it was not the practice to give wounded men in England their full pay. Their pay accumulates and is given to them when they leave hospital. They are however provided with many comforts while in the institution. In reply to Mr Webb, the Minister of Mines said in view of the numerous fatal accidents which have recently taken place investigations are be.ing made of the quality of gelignite [now in use in the mines. In reply to Mr Pearce the Minister 'of Defence said he was asking the Imperial authorities whether they •would permit the establishment of a canteen at the front where our men would be supplied with their own meat and other comforts. In reply to Mr Isitt the Minister said it was a misconception that the pay of wounded men was reduced while the men were in hospital. In reply to Mr Sykes the Minister of Finance stated that a trade circular issued by the Continental Tyre Company had been sent out under the 'authority of Christchurch branch of • the Public Trust Office. The Company was still under control of the Public Trust. In reply to Dr Thacker the Minister 1 of Defence said "next of kin" was the relative named by the soldier in ' his record. The House resumed at 1 7.30. On the motion that' urgency be given to the Finance Bill, Mr McCoombs protested against the passage of a Bill of such importance without members having' hac| opportunity to study its contents. Mr Pearce asked if- Government would be satisfied with the second reading only that night? The Premier said the country wanted the m/asure and it was necessary r in the public interest. Sir Joseph Ward said the House had already approved that two millions of increased taxation must be provided, and his duty that night was to explain how that proposed taxation was intended to be raised. Members must recognise that.sacrifices must-be 1 made if w$ were to do our share in the great war. Sir Joseph Ward then went through the,various clauses in i the Bill, the provisions of which gave ; effect to the proposals in the Budget. The new proposals were outlined at ! the afternoon sitting. At the conclu--1 sion of his address Sir Joseph Ward ' thanked members for listening so ' carefully to his explanation, and said 1 he would be pleased to give any further information in Committee. Mr Sidey congratulated the Minister upon the comprehensive nature of the Bill. Mr Pearce was pleased that the suggested duty on kerosene had been 1 withdrawn, but he would have pre--1 ferred a direct duty on some article to the proposed primage duty. He intended to propose a heavier tax on beer. * >: . Mr McCoombs 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 of the cost' of living. He considered there should have been further additions to the land and income tax. # Mr Noawfatby said 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 new taxation had affected the Home working man. He contended that city lands should have beeji included in the increased land taxation. He advocated further increase ,in th% beer tax. Mr Isitt said the. city man has to bear his full share of the general taxation. He contended that the cry that the farmer had to carry most of the taxation was all piffle. He welcomed the proposal to tax beer according'to its alcoholic strength. Mr Hine moved an amendment with a view of increasing the tax on beer and relieving the primage duty by the amount provided by such increase. Mr Webb urged as protection to the coal mining industry a duty on imported coal, which would produce £50,000. He expressed disappointment that more had not been taken from profit-mongers who were exploiting the people.