PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16619, 16 August 1917, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

INSCRIBED STOCK BILL-

V, ALL f STAGES PASSED.'. BUDGET DEBATE CONTINUED. [BY TELEGBAPH.—PBZSS ASSOCIATION.] 4 * WELLINGTON. Wednesday. | rsE House of Representatives met at 2.30 Mr. E. Newman (Eangitikei) asked if, in new of the great accumulation of wheat i n Australia, the Government would permit farmers who had not yet been able to sow wheat owing. to the wet weather, j to grow ffreen: feed for stock. The Hon. W.D. S. Mac Donald replied that the Government was anxious to have as much wheat as possible "town in the Dominion, because there was difficulty in getting wheat shipped from: Australia even after it had been purchased. The Government, however, had no wish to impose hardship on any district, and ?he , had no doubt that everything would come out ail right in the end. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second read--ing of the New Zealand Inscribed Stock Bui, which,' he explained, would establish a * complete register of war loan stock, thereby preventing the loss or improper use of such stock in the event of it being lost or stolen. The Bill was treated as a matter of urgency, and was put through ail its stages without amendment. The remainder of the afternoon "was devoted to questions." ? ..-'/v -"" ."'.. After the dinner adjournment the debate on the Budget was continued by Mr. P. Aiander (Marsden), who said that any loan to win the war was justified so long as duo economy was observed in its expenditure. Be deprecated attacks upon capital] because after the/war every pound 01 capital would be required to increase production. Statistics showed a "considerable falling off in exports and imports, from which he argued that the position of the Dominion Was not as satisfactory as many people thought. On the other hand,' taxation was increasing, which greatly accentuated the - need . for care on the part of the people. Speakin«r of taxation in detail, he predicted grave >' hardship udder the mortgage tax, quoting special cases in support of his contention. He strongly disapproved ;of the idea of calling up boys at 19 for military, service, as he did" of the proposal to. levy a tax on tea, which be believed would not be consistent with reducing the cost of living. ' __ , ■ Minister Congratulated.;

. Mr. C. H. Poole (Auckland West) said that notwithstanding the magnitude of the demands 'of ; the Budget ? there was a '.tone =of hopefulness about it. He congratulated- the Minister for Finance °° the splendid service he was doing for the Dominion in the present crisis, which service was proved by the comparativelv scathless manner in which the Budget had come through the discussion. Much of the criticism which had been stored up had been rendered pointless bv the breadth •of the proposals. Cdnsequentlvoh several occasions the teeth of the violent had been drawn. Discussing the National Cabinet, he said it was obviously a compromise, and though there were complaints on all sides it was the duty of the people to make the best use of it under the existing circumstances. He noticed with regret a i tendency for town and country members i to drift further apart. : This should 1 not be in such a crisis, when every effort should be bent to win the war. It was entirely wrong to regard the farmer as a cumberer ..of the "ground' just as it was wicked to regard the resident of the cities as a thief and marauder. In regard to the -cost of living he said the Administration "-had been 4 ' altogether too timid in dealing with; the problem. While supporting the amusement tax, he by no means joined in the general condemnation of picture shows," which if the cen--1 sorship improved, do a 'great deal . to relieve the monotony of many drab ' lives. On . the subject of the" tea "tax he | was undecided, lor he could see; it going '■ to hit many poor people. In conclusion, J. he urged the s development of the fishing, tanning, paper, and fruit industries as a I means of helping-returned: soldiers, who, Sunless assisted,- would in time become a j dangerous problem.\ : : .%. *f^ ","; > : v*J^

Higher Levy Urged. Mr. G. J. Talbot (Temuka) expressed the opinion that S the Budget had 3 not taken sufficient toll oh; the wealth which had flowed ; into the ! -Dominion? since the declaration of war. .It was idler to suppose that the war could be «■; financed by conjurors with trick taxation. —Heavy taxation was" only the y way to ; foot the bill. He * could e not I imagine that ? any section of the community would object to bear a fair share of the burden. At present there was evidence ofr too much extravagance, ; Waste should- be checked by taxation. Dealing with the Budget proposals he said Ihe supported the suggestion of a surtax on large incomes. Land aggregation -was going on in ? the Dominion, and for that reason he favoured more "Severe taxation on the - larger properties than the Budget proposed.. He did .not favour the tax on tea, but =he advocated" drastic : taxation on luxuries, especially; motor-cars, many of which were not .-.. utility cars.- . The amusement tax,; he urged, should be extended 'to racing, and beer duty should be substantially increased. . The House adjourned at 10.50. . * ' ■". - _ - -■ - LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 1

[by telegraph.—press- association-/] i WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Legislative Council resumed this afternoon. 1 The Hon. Sir Chas Bowen was granted-leave for the remainder of the session on account of ill-health. A motion of sympathy tc the Speaker of the Council, Hon. C. J. Johnston, in connection with the death of his eldest son, Brigadier-General Johnston, was carried. _, -' The regulation of the Trade and Commerce Bill, which provides that tea imported prior to the imposition of the new duty cannot be, increased in price, was put through all stages and passed. i