THE NEW TAXES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22538, 1 October 1936, Page 13

THE NEW TAXES

LONG DEBATE ENDS t iiOTH THE BILLS PASSED BUSY DAY IN HOUSE VARIED LIST OF BUSINESS [Bt TELEGRAPH —SPKCIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The passage of. the two bills embodying the Government's taxation proposals was finally attained in the House of Representatives to-day. Both the Annual Taxing Bill and the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill were put through their remaining stages in committee and passed, and the way is now open for the reimposition of the graduated land tax and the levying of additional income tax. At {he opening -of the sitting the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Amend- / ment Bill was reported back from the Local Bills. Committee with amendments and the annual report of the State Advances Corporation was tabled by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash. The greater part of the afternoon was given over to Ministerial replies to members' questions, but consideration of these was completed at five o'clock. ;

When the Prime Minister, Mr. Sarage, asked for urgency for the pasgage of the two taxation bills this was challenged by / the Opposition, but a division on the urgency motion was eanily carried by the Government. Arguments by the Opposition against the graduated land tax were freely repeated duping, the committee stag.? of the Annual T ax >ng Bill. There was a division on every clause, but the bill was finally passed without amendment shortly after nine o'clock.

The committee stage of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill were then immediately commenced. This measure was not discussed at such great length and! with minor amendments introduced by the Minister of .Finance,, was put through committee in under two hours. The third reading of both bills was only a formality. The Minister referred briefly to detailed points of procedure and with the two measures finally passed the Hou£e at 11..10 pjn.

THE MORTGAGE BILL ANOTHER AMENDWIENT PROTECTION AGAINST FRAUD t&. [UY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The writing into the Mortgagors and Lesaees Rehabilitation Bill of various amendments suggested by the Legislative Co'Uicil, mainly at the request of the Government, was approved by the Hocise of Representatives to-night. The ' neosssary amendments to the bill were introduced by Governor-General's mesunder the provisions of the Constitution Act. All except one of *the amendments were published when the bill was before the Legislative Council. Tti9 one alteration which is new re- / fen to the clause restraining applicants for relief from disposing of property or obtaining credit without disclosure while their applications are pending. Tltidcr the bill as it originally stood the Cdnrt of Equity had power to declare void any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, encumbrance, transfer, assignment or delivery in contravention ' of this clause. It is now provided that the Court must consider the interest* of iul the creditors and the' good faith of ithe person dealt with by the mortgagor before declaring any transaction in ithis respect to be either wholly or partly void. / In explaining the new amendment the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, said it was a protection against fraud.

LAND SETTLEMENT GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST . THE SMALL 'FARMS SCHEME X ■ [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Matters relating to land settlement, which were raised in the House of Representatives some days ago by Mr. C. H, Burnett (Government —Tauranga), were the subject of u reply in the House to-day by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstoiie. Under the Laud Laws, Amendment Act, 19*28, the Minister said, owners of r ural lands could give the' Government an option to purchase on behalf, of persons who had; respectively agreed to acquire subdivisions of the area at a stilted price. Th«! legislation was still operative and the Government was anxiousi to assist closer settlement by its provisions if the Price asked for properties was sustained DjMlie Department's valuations. Ifc was recognised that the rate of interest payable on deferred payment licences issued under the legislation was high compared with rates ruling to-day audi the question of bringing down amending legislation was sit- present under consideration. Dealing with the small farms scheme Mr. Langstone said it Aras distinct from ordinary land -settlement in that the Government found in practically all cases the whole of the establishment costs. Tho aim was to place men at the lowest possible price on small properties which, /when developed, would , retsirn sufficient revenue to meet the chsirges and provide for the settler anc! his family a fair stimdard of j| living. t The maximum expenditure j>er holding had already been increased from £l5lOO to £I4OO and the question of a further increase would be considered if it was found that the present limit would not permit of a continuation of ? the scheme.

DOMINION PUBLICITY SPECIAL films suggested CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS [by TKLEGII^rH —SPKCIAL REPORT Kit] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The desirability of the production of special scenic films for exhibition abroad during the Coronation ceremonies, next venr and before the celebration of New* Zealand's centenary in 1940 was the subject of comment in the House of Hepresentativtis to-day. The matter arose through a question V Mr. c. H. Burnett (Government— Tauiranga). The Minister in charce of the Tourist and Publicity Department, the Hon. F. Langstone, replied thfit the department was investiguting the posuibilites of producing a compre--1 bensire film in connection with the centennial celebrations. If The Minister said considerable saccess; bud attended the production of ; films hy the department, but the main . difficulty to be met in preparing films for release on special occasions was • that of securing adequate release at 1 the proper tim®.