PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14530, 18 November 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

al . .. V ig r [ABRIDGED press association REPORT.] d LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [. Thursday. t Tnj-; Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., when the Gaming Act Amendment Bill was considered in committee, reported witl; .] amendments, and parsed. The Council rose at 9.55, p.m. ,f HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. e Thursday. I' The House of Representatives sat at 2.30 e P-m----(I f MEASURES CONSIDERED, d I '! Industrial, Conciliation, and Arbi- .. tration Amendment Bill was read a first q time. y , Tho amendments made by the Legi&la- ° ™ Council in 'ho Harbours Amendment Bill were agreed to. k Th ° Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) •- moved that the amendments made by the I- Y° unC f 111 the Land Settlement Finance u Amendment Bill be agreed to. Mr. Massey (leader of the Opposition) n said the amendment in clause 7 was a 1 breach of privilege, inasmuch as it was 0 a money clause, which it was not- competent e for the Council to amend in any way. ■. It was resolved to send a message to e the Council to this effect. i- On a motion that the remaining amends ments made by the Council be agreed to, s Mr. Allen (Bruce) moved as an amendment 5 to except clauses 7 and-8. On a division the amendment was lost s by 44 votes to 23. c A further amendment to except the : amendment to clause 10 (which originally , provided that no one person should have , interest in more than one allotment and , was struck out by the Council) was moved - by Mr. Poland (Ohinemuri), and carried , by 30 votes to 26. , The Prime Minister then moved on ad- - journment of the debate, which was agreed to. The Monopoly Prevention Amendment - Bill (T. Mackenzie) was read a second time. Hon. Buddo moved the second reading ' of the Public Holidays Bill. ' The House adjourned at 6.30 p.m. ' When tlie House resumed in the evening the debate on the Public Holidays Bill • was continued. The second reading was carried, and the Bill was referred to the Industries Committee for consideration and report. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. The second reading of the Public Works Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. R. McKenzie. Mr. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said the Bill was a very important one. . Some of its provisions wero objectionable, ' and he would prefer to see it left over till next year. Mr. Jos. Allen (Bruce) condemned the clause dealing with irrigation, and expressed surprise at the enormous powers conferred on the Minister. Mr. ■ Scott (Tuapeka) and Mr. Fraser (Wakatipu) opposed the second reading, and Mr. Fisher (Wellington Central) moved that tho Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) supported the Bill, and said he hoped it would pass into lav/ this session. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Fisher's amendment was defeated on the voices, and the Bill passed its second reading. RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION. Tho second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill was moved by the Hon. R. McKenzie, and a general discussion ensued. (Left sitting.) POLITICAL NOTES. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THE BILL. [by telegraph, —special' correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. For some days there has been a good deal of speculation as to whether the Government would bring forward the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill for further consideration. It will be recalled that progress was reported upon the measure after a clause had been inserted on the motion of Mr. Wilford (Hutt) to the effect that in connection with the erection and alteration of buildings the Government should be subject to the municipal by-laws the same as private residents. Only a day or two ago the Prime Minister hinted that' the Bill might not come on again this session. "Apparently," he said, "members did not want the Bill, or they wanted the Government to be run by the local bodies." As it was felt by some members that it would be a pity for the Bill to bo lost on account of one moot clause a petition was sent round for signature by members and afterwards presented to the Prime Minister. It is now reported that, the House will be given a chance to'remove the "objectionable' clause. .EVADING INCOME TAX. The question was recently put by Mr. Field (Otaki) to the Minister for Finance as to whether it is within his knowledge that- certain wealthy foreign firms and companies having branches or agencies in New Zealand, make a practice of debiting their goods to such branches or agencies at such increased prices as will permit of little or no profit being shown on their New Zealand business, and that thus the revenue of the Dominion is being annually defrauded of considerable income tax which is justly payable ? . In reply, the Minister states that he is aware of the practice referred to, but he is informed by the Taxation Department that the evasion «f taxation is not so great as Mr. Field appears to think. Where such practices exist the Department has the power, under the Act, of rejecting the returns made, and of assessing the taxpayer on what appears a reasonable rate of profit. This is frequently done, and the onus is then placed on the taxpayer of showing that the Department's assessment is wrong, should he object to it. REPLIES TQ QUESTIONS. Replying to a question by Mr. Herries (Tauranga) the Hon. T. Mackenzie states that the report obtained from the chief inspector of fisheries on the Rotorua fisheries is of a confidential nature to* act as a guide to the Department in its operations, and is not intended for publication. 1 The Minister for Mines (Hon. R. McKenzie) has informed Mr. Mander (Marsden) that he will probably be visiting the Marsden district early next year and will then take an opportunity to meet the miners in order to ascertain the position in regard to their complaints against Mr. Binnie, inspector of mines In the meantime, he does not see any necessity for a formal inquiry. It is not intended to introduce legislation this session providing for a universal ; Saturday half-holiday. A suggestion made by Mr. Reed (Bay ? f - , P ! en A v .) that model by-laws will be included in the proposed Counties Bill. ; will be carefully considered. JOTTINGS. The Native Affairs Committee has referred to the Government for immediate inquiry the petition for legislation to enable an alteration to be made in the boundaries of the "Waimarino native reserves. During the present session 40 Bills have " been referred to the local Bills Committee.' ■. The Public Petitions Committee has made no recommendation on the petition of R. J. Fergus, of Auckland, for darnages for illtreatment while committed to the Auckland Mental Hospital. ' A Bill lias been introduced to make provision for the draining of the lake and i swamps forming part of, the Poukawa native reserve* V -