PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15664, 18 July 1914, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. - &AND AND INCOME TAX. ;• 'AMENDED DEFAMATION BILL. f- R v irxEGß.\rH.— association-] WiitUKGTON', Friday. rr nH House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. .G. M- Thomson moved the second reading of '' 10 Presbyterian Church Pro- ' perty Act 1885 Amendment Bill, anieasuroj for the move effective vesting in the trustees of property held for the use and purposes of any congregation of the Presbyterian Church, Tie explained that the pernor at=ked for was necessary in view of 'he extension of the social side of the Church's work, especially in the direction of establishing orphanages and colleges. Iho second reading was passed without debate, and was referred to i he Committee of Selection. Land Taxation. The Hon. James Allen, Minister for Finance. moved the second reading of the Land Tax and Income Tax Bill. He stated that it made no alteration in the amount . of the tax levied. Sir Joseph Ward asked if Mr. Allen would supply the House with information as to the effect of the stepping system introduced by tho Treasurer in connection with tho ordinary land tax. Personally, Vie had objected to tho system when he was Minister for Finance.

The Prime Minister, in reply, declared that there had not been any increaso in the rate of land tax levied since his Government had come into office. Tho only people whose land tax had increased were thwo whose valuations had gone up. Beyond the increase made in tho graduated tax, no legislation had been introduced by tho Government increasing taxation, in spite of what the Leader of the Opposition had stated from the public platform.

Sir Joseph Ward denied that he had ever said tho Government had by legislation increased indirect taxation, but that did not alter the fact which he had stated— that taxation had increased by 10s Id per head under a Government that had promised to reduce taxation.

Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) said that since Mr. Massey had declared as a part of the Reform platform that taxation must be reduced tho taxes had increased by £197,(i:0, but there had been no legislation in redura taxation. Mr. Payne (Grey Lynn) declared that the present system of taxation was iniquitous. Country Peopla'g Burdens. 4 Mr 13. Pearce (Patea) said it was a mistake to think that the country people escaped taxation. In addition* to the land tajc, the country people paid one and a half Millions in local taxation. Mr. H. G. Ell (Christchurch South) accused the Government of a change of front upon the taxation question. Mr. Allen, in reply, said that one of the reasons why the Bill had not been brought down last year was the waste of time resulting from the stonewall. There was no encouragement for the Governmena to bring down a reduction of taxation. It was nonsense- to say there was any change in the land tax. Last year ordinary values had gone up. The second reading of the Bill was agreed to. The Laws of Libel. The Hon. A- L. Herdman, Minister for •Justice, moved the second reading of the Defamation Bill, He was satisfied that members would find the Bill a wise one. •If was a very great difficulty for journalists to find out their leaal position with regard to libel. The Bill attempted to draw the line between free speech and the right of the citizen to have bis character protected. Sir Joseph Ward opposed clause 28, which protected a proprietor, publisher, . or editor from criminal prosecution for defamation where the matter complained of was ' inserted without his konwledge. He wanted to know if tile proprietors of the reputable journals were asking for the Bill. Mr. E. P. Lee (Oamaru) said the Bill ,was a comprehensive one, and the Attor-ney-General was to be congratulated upon its introduction. The change in the law liad been asked for by the press of New Zealand. v The Bill gave the man who could prove truth or public benefit a fair chance, whicft was denied to him under .the old law. '-„_. Mr. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) said that a special power was being given to newspaper proprietors which was not extended to other individuals. It was wrong that the door should be opened to the publication of an infamous libel. Papers should not be encouraged to hold up public men to scorn and ridicule. Privileges of the Press. Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau) said the At-torney-General seemed to think that the press of the country was established for the cood of the country. This was wrong. The newspapers were merely income-earn-ing concerns. Instead of giving extended privileges to the press they should be curtailed.

.Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) said thai at the corning elections there would be the political issue, and the prohibition and Bible in schools issue, and there would be wide scope for attack upon public men. Mr. Hcrdman, in reply, claimed that the Bill was advanced in the public interests, and was a distinct improvement on the present law. It was an advantage that people should be able to read the reports of public meetings, and the press should be able to publish anything that was in the public interest. The press was hound by that reservation. Reports of meetings of local authorities could be published, now. Why should it not publish reports of public meeting?, so long as they were fair and accurate, and in the public interest? A misconception existed regarding Clause 23. A newspaper proprietor was not criminally liable for matter published in his paper without his knowledge, but lie was not relieved from his civil liability. Second Heading Carried. On the motion for a second reading a division was called for, the motion being carried by 33 to 21. The voting was as follows :— Ayes: Allen, Anderson, J. Bollard, R. Bollard, Bradney, Campbell, Dickson, Escott. Fisher. Fraser, Guthrie, Harris, Her:lman, Hemes, Hino, Hunter, Lee, Mat olm, Mander, Massey, Newman, Nosworthv, Okev, I'earce.Re'ed.R. H. Rhodes, '!'. W. Rhodes. Scott. F. H. Smith, Statham. Sykes, G. M. Thomson, Wilson. Mocs: Atmore. Buxton, Colvin, Craigie, Davey, Ell, Forbes, Glover, Hanan.McCalbun, McCombs, Mac Donald, Payne, Poland, Robertson, Russell, Sidev. Veitch, Ward, Webb. Witty. Pairs: Ayes—Young, Buchanan, Bell, Wilkinson. Noes—Dicker, R. McKcnzi?, tieddon, Isitt. .The House rose at 11.30 p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A SHORT SITTING. • [TIT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

WrxLi.vcTOS, Friday. ■ "flic Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Th" Hons. 0. Samuel, J, MacGregor, R. K. Simpson, W. Morgan, R. Moore,_ J. <MfOibhon, and J. Fisher were sworn in. '■': The annual sessional committees were giefc up. .On the motion of the Hon. H. D. Bell w was decided to consider the Fire Briv & de& Amendment Bill on next sitting ;|ifi*y. ■{■>■:■ •'.' Th« Council rose at 2.45 p.m.