PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18206, 27 September 1922, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

INTRODUCED. LAND AND INCOME TAX. PROPOSED REDUCTIONS. FIRE BLIGHT BILL PASSED. [BT TKLEGRAPH.—-SPECIAL KEPOBTKn.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. A Bill involving a reduction of land and income tax was introduced in s the llouso of Representatives to-day by Governor-General's message. By this the Prime Minister proposes to reduce the super-t<kx on land from 20 to 10 per centand to reduce the amount of the income tax by. withdrawing the super-tax altogether. The reductions are to come into force during the present financial year. The Land Laws Amendment Bill and the Whangarei Borough Empowering Amendment Bill were also introduced, and Jhe annusJ report of the Mines and Machinery Inspection Department was laid on tho table. In the- evening the third reading of tho State Advances Amendment Bill was taken, this evoking a discussion on the Government's homing policy. Tlie Bill was eventually passed. The Fire Blight Btfl was taken in Committee and reported without amendment. The Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Amendment Bill was pat through the Committee stage with an amendment made by the Education Committee limiting the amount which the Board of Governors might spend on celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the collega to £500 instead of«£1000 as originally proposed. On the House resuming both Bills were' read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.45 p.m. QUINNAT SALMON. SOLIDLY ESTABLISHED. COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES [BY TELBORAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.]* WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Quinnat salmon are now so solidly established- rri .New Zealand waters, says ■ the chief inspector of fisheries, Mr. L. F. Ayson, in his annual report, that the time-has come when large quantities should be put on the market. He re- ' commends that next season fishenrien should be encouraged to catch them for the market, and that the Marine Department should either hire a suitable vessel or use its - t ketch, Te Waipounamu, to prospect for schools of salmon off the North Otago and Canterbury coasts, and by using the proper trolling gear de- j monstrate; to fishermen how salmon are ' caught off the Pacific coast of Canada and America. He was convinced that once fishermen found out how the schools of salmon travelled along the coastal waters. atj certain seasons they would be able to catch them in large quantities. a park. WKA NGAREf PROPOSAL. ; INTRODUCTION OF BILL: [BY . 4 H.--SPECIAL BSPORTEB-} WELLINGTON. Tuesday .. r "Leave was sought in the House to-d*y : by Mr. F. Mander (Marsden) to intro'duce the Whangarei Borough Leasing Empowering Bill, which proposes to give the Whangarei Borough Council power to lease portions of Kensington Park to the Whangarei Baring Club for a term . to be, agreed upon \ between the council and the club. Several members asked for ah assurance that the people of Whangarei were fully aware of the proposal contained in the Bill, one member mentioning that he understood *, petition . atrainst the proposal bad boon lodged with the Minister. i. Mr.. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) said he, was aware that the Bill had b*en fully .. advertise*. He suggested that Ipave .should be jrivett to introduce the Bill, i which could then be referred to the Local Bills Committee and an. opportunity -given to those opposed to the lease testate their ob ; eotions. He knew it had beea suggested to Mr. Mander that he -should get a clause inserted in the t Waehing Up" Bill authorising the lease, trot the member for Marsden had objected -to such a course, preferring that the fullest publicity should be given to the proposal. Mr. Mander extfainpd that the late appearance of the Bill was due to the fart that althoueh he had received the Bill earlier in the session be had sent it back as it had not been properly advertised. , He mentioned that there was some op-. position to the Bill, and * small petition .had been presented to th? House objecting to the proposal, but that could be considered in committee. 'U&Q!* !eav * Was granted to introduce the Bill w.jich was then read a first tame and referred to the Local Bills Committee. • BHIBS AND SEAMEN. ; PAST YEAR REVIEWED. [»Y TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.} WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The annual report of jfche Marine Departmeat shows that the total number of seamen engaged and discharged at • the various ports during the year was 16,925 and 17,575 respectively, as against 23,125 and 22,904 respectively during ' the previous year. Tbe decrease is attributed to the laying up of ships consequent on the trade depression. The total amount paid to sick and injured, seamep under the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1911, was £15,228, as compared with £20,288 in the previous year. During the year 430 candidates passed their examinations, and 121 failed. Of those who passed 232 were masters, mates, or .engineers of sea-going ships* '4 were masters of fishing boats or of cargo boats under 25 tons, 29 were masters or en.gmeers of steamers plying within restricted limits, 60 were engineers of seagoing motor-propelled ships, and 105 were engineers of such boats plying within re- .: atacted hmite, - On December 31 last there were on the register of vessels in the Dominion 161 sailing vessels of 23,201 tons register and - 401 steamers of 68,705 tons register, as compared with 163 sailing vessels oi 21,223 tons register, and 384 steamers of 64537 tons register at tho end of the previous year. {MENACE OF FIRE BLIGHT. BILL IN COMMITTEE. / [BT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The House went into Committee tonight on the Fire Blight Bill. During the discussion tho Minister for Agriculture said there; was no intention to persecute anyone, but the matter was a serious one. The Government had ad--ivanced a great deal of money to fruitgrowers, and thoy must do their best to protect that investment. At the same ' time every step taken woUd have his personal supervision, and as far as possible . injustice would be avoided. The Bfllwse sss-oortod without amendment.