PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14511, 27 October 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

j[ABBIDG£»-PBESSI ASSOCIATION lIEPOST.jJ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday. Tub Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. MEASURES CONSIDERED. The Attorney-General (Dr. Findlay) moved the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, which was agreed' to. The Stone) Quarries Bill was further considered in committee. Progress . was again reported. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday. LAND AND INCOME TAX. The House of Representatives continued its consideration in committee of tbe Land and Income Tax Bill until an early hour this morning The Hon. Sir W. J. Steward (Waitaki) 'moved that the income of a taxpayer be allowed an exemption of £25 for every member of his family wholly dependent upon him for maintenance. On a division the amendment was lost by 34 votes to 32. Mr. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) moved the insertion of a new clause to the effect that section 11 of the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act should not apply to financial, commercial, or industrial institutes, which hold land solely for purposes of business. This was lost by .44 votes to 19. The Bill was reported. The Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Act was introduced by Governor's message,, and read a first time. The House rose at two a.m. EDUCATION IN TARANAKI. Whoa the House resumed at 2.30 p.m., the Lands Committee reported on the Taranaki Reserves Bill, which was set down for its second reading. Several members drew attention 'to the splendid endowment set aside by the people of Taranaki for the purposes of higher ecucation, bat which so far had! not been utilised for that purpose. Mr. Russell (Avon) suggested that Tara-. naki members should send' a requisition to the Senate of the University of New Zealand, and ask that body to make such, regulations as would result in the scholarships being need for the higher education of the young people in Taranaki. The Hon. D. Buddo replied that the Bill dealt only with the leases of education .reserves, but members had done well to point out that accumulated funds were not being used for the purposes for which they were set aside. The remainder of the afternoon was occupied in discussing answers to questions;. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. THE TRUSTS BILL. On tie House resuming in the evening, Sir Joseph .Ward moved the third reading of the Commercial Trusts Bill. In replying to Mr. Hemes (Tauranga) the Prime Minister said that the American meat trusts might endeavour to get a footing iii the, Dominion, and compel existing; companies to join_them. In that case it might be necessary for the State to take drastic action even to the extent of opening retail shops at Home. Under the present system it , was not possible for buyers to combine. The Bill was read a third time and passed. THIRD READINGS. The Secret Commissions Bill and the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. - LAND AND INCOME TAX. • Sir Joseph Ward moved that the amendments made in committee to the Land and Income Tax Bill be agreed to. Mr. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said he was dead against the Bill, al- ! though he thoroughly believed in a graduated income tax. He . saw no reason for increasing the burden -of . the people approximately by £100,000 per annum, seeing that the Dominion's finances were buoyant. A readjustment of taxation was necessary so that , the actualV revenue required, would ; be raised and no more. He contended that as the graduated tax had been instituted in order to compel the subdivision of land, it ' tight not to apply to companies holding land for of their business only. He would vote against the BilL Sir Joseph Ward defended the Government's taxation measure of last year, the ; object of ■ which was to raise tine funds necessary for defence. In the Financial . Statement of last year he had foreshadowed the taxation provided for in the Bill. It- was useless for Air. Massey to quote financial authorities when the Dominion had adopted a system of setting aside a, portion of the surplus revenue for public works, so as to avoid borrowing. Several | members had been recently asking for railways for their district*, and yet were prepared to vote against the measure which would increase the Consolidated Fund and provide revenue for puhlic works. The . motion was agreed to. Th© Prime Minister moved the third reading of the Bill. ; Mr. T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) moved an amendment to the : effect that the House, while approving of the principle of a graduated income-tax, is of opinion that the Bill, should be read this day six months. ■ He protested against taxing the man - having a high salary, which amounted to class taxation. If local bodies imposed rating in the same manner as-the Government raised its taxes, there would be resolutions of protest throughout New Zealand. b On the amendment being put, it was rejected by 53 votes to 12. Mr. Massey replied! to the speeches of Sir Joseph; Ward and Messrs. Taylor and Laurenson, and recapitulated his reasons for opposing the Bill. The discussion was continued by Sir W. J. Steward and Messrs. Herdman, Hogg, and Fraser. Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said he could not understand the opposition to the Bill, which would effect an enormous saving in interest. The Bill was read a third time and passed. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. The third reading of t/he Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill was moved by Sir Joseph. Ward. Mr. Allen (Bruce) said it was much to be regretted that a measure dealing with the crying social evil had not been introduced this session. Mr. Hanan (Invercargill) suggested' that the matter be referred to a Parliamentary Committee to obtain evidence. The Bill was passed. The House rose at 12.55 a.m.