PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

[WANTON WASTE OF TIME

HOURS OF DREARY DEBATE.

ANOTHER ESTIMATE PASSED

TAXING BILLS INTRODUCED.

ONE BRIGHT INTERLUDE

[nt TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. No more glaring instance of wanton waste of timo lias been provided by Parliament this session than (lie display given by tho House of Representative to-day. Save for a break of half an hour, when two important faxing hills wore introduced, arid a minor wrangle developed. I lie Ilouse devoted the whole of the afternoon and evening sessions to consideration of tlio estimates of tho Department of Industries and Commerce.

When it is explained that theso estimates occupy only two pages and involve a total, sum of £B3OI, the extent of Parliament's philandering can readily be understood. Hour after hour was filled with petty discussions on unimportant items, one classic instanco being tho particular attention given an item involving £ls, being membership subscriptions to chambers of commerce. In the aggregate, probably two hours was spent by various speakers in discoursing on that extremely minor vole.

Many times the Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith, had to ask what item in tho Estimates the speeches of members hinged upon. But members were ingenious in their excuses for introducing seemingly extraneous subjects, and so the dull, monotonous discussion dragged its dreary length through live valuable hours. It was not until tho clock had almost marked tho hour for tho 10.30 p.m. adjournment that the llouso consented to pass tho departmental vote. Even that slight progress was made only after a, veiled threat of tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, who was back in his placo to-day after a week's absence due to indisposition. Tho Prime Minister explained that tho llouso had spent all day discussing one class of Estimates and that no progress had been made. There must bo somo reason for the delay, there must bo somo reason for tho lack of desire to consider the Estimates. Therefore, Sir Joseph deemed it his duty to suspend the Standing Orders in order that tho Estimates might be accorded urgency. The Chairman of Committees ruled that progress must first bo reported. Sir Joseph agreed to this, but the lion. W. Downie Stewart (Reform —Dunedin West) pointed out that in his experience of introducing bills, Mr. Speaker bad ruled that it was not feasible to ask '"or urgency lato in tho evening. The Prime Minister referred to the Standing Order on the point, which gave t lie Government power to ask for urgency at any stage during the evening. He bad conformed with the Standing Orders and accordingly moved that progress be leported. Thereupon tho vote was passed and progress reported to Mr. Speaker. On the motion cf tho Prime Minister tho House. adjourned. Ministerial answers to questions will ho circulated to-morrow, and will probably furnish the main theme for tho afternoon sitting. Tho Estimates will not again arise for discussion until Friday, and at the present rate of progress will not bo iisposed of inside five or six more days.

COMMISSIONERS' POSITION.

PUBLIC DEBTS SINKING FUNDS

DISBANDMENT RECOMMENDED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

Their own disbandment was recommended by the Commissioners of the Public Debts Sinking Funds in their annual report presented to Parliament to-day. The report stated that tho administration of sinking funds of the Westport Harbour was in 1928 vested in the Public Trustee, and on Aprii 2 last tho commissioners transferred to tho Public Trustee, securities to the amount of £238,450, together with £52, the balance at credit of the current account at the Bank of New Zealand. As thoso sinking funds wero thp only funds remaining under the control of the commissioners there appeared to be no necessity for the further existence of the commissioners, and it was suggested that consideration should lie given to tho question of tho repeal of legislation relative to their appointment.

The commissioners are tho Minister of Finance, the Controller and Auditor-Gen-eral, the Public Trustee and tho Speaker of the House of Representatives.

APPRENTICES IN DOMINION

FULL QUOTA NOT EMPLOYED.

[by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

The number of apprentices registered in New Zealand is 9943, according to a return tabled in the House today. As tliero arc 31,773 journeymen and working employers for whom apprentices arc allowable, this is equivalent to one apprentice to 3.2 journeymen. Tho number of apprentices who would be employed if employers engaged the number they were now entitled to under the law would bo 19,931.

LAND TAX ALTERATIONS.

BUDGET AND BILL COMPARED

Tito effort' of the modification of the super land-tax proposals, in comparison with (lie plan announced in tlio Budget, 111 addition to Hie exemption of properties between £12,000 and £14,000 unimproved vnliie, is" u substantial reduction in the extra levy ori nil between £14,000 and £16.500. On higher valuations, there is also a reduction which diminishes so that the super-tax equals the ordinary tax at £30.000 as originally proposed. The Bridget scheme was a super-fax increasing hv 1 per cent, for every £SO from £12,500 to £15,000, and thence by 1 per rent, for every £3OO. Now it is proposed to graduate the super-tax by 1 per cent- for every £SO up to £16,500 and thence by 1 per cent, for every £270 The effect, of the, alterations is illusirated by the following examples

•Budget. Bill Per rent. Amount. Per rent. Amount. £12,551) I £0 IS 8 nil 14,000 MO 'J 7 S 7 nil 15,000 ' '.O ;,!) 0 '2O £2O 3 9 10.500 '.fis I'.H 15 3 50 r.7 If) 3 18,000 1.0 7ft I !) 55 5-1) 73 t 7 •->i,ooo 70 nr. 7 r. tui2-3 no in # .'IO,OOO 100 2!)0 18 !) 100 290 18 9

The present mortgage exemption allows a maximum of £IO,OOO, diminished bv £2 for every ill. of unimproved value in excess of £IO,OOO. so that no exemption is allowed on values exceeding £15,000. The Budget proposed an exemption of £SOOO diminishing pound for pound up to £SOOO. Now tho Government recommends an exemption of £7500 diminishing so that no exemption will be allowed hi values above £15,000.