INDUSTRIES BILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 15

INDUSTRIES BILL

FULL DAY'S DEBATE ATTACK DEVELOPS MANY POINTS RAISED .ONLY ONE MINISTER SPEAKS [by TELKGRArH —SPKCIAL KF.rORTKR] V ELLINGTON, Tuesday The Government's proposals for th regulation and control of industry a outlined in the Industrial Efficienc; Bill formed the principal subject of dis cussion for a further full sitting of tin House of Representatives to-day. Tin Opposition's attack on the measure wa not nearly so hesitant as was the casi when the second reading debate on th< bill opened last Thursday, and althougl the Government's defence of the mea sure was loft largely in the hand: of back-benchers the discussion was fre quently above the average level of in terest. The three best Opposition speeche: came from the Ut. Hon. J. G. Coate: (Kaipara), the Hon. A. Hamilton (Wal lace) and Mr. J. Hargest (Awarua) Jlr. Hargest's criticism was generally against the bureaucratic nature of tin legislation. Mr. Hamilton attacked i' on the grounds of its indecisiveness while Mr. Coates was even more posi tive in suggesting that the Governmom should scrap the bill in favour of proposals developed by the last Govern meat for State intervention in the af fairs of a particular industry only if il ■could be proved defin tely that condi tions warranted it. Mr. Coates also suggested that industries should be dealt with individually bv legislation instead of being broughl within the scope of an all-embracing bill such as that before the House. The Attorney-General, the Hon. H G. R. Mason, was the only Minister tc take part in the debato during the day He defended the bill on the grounds that lack of control meant chaos in industry and indicate'! that provisior might be made for the compensation of' industries' which m ght be found tc be superfluous under rationalisatior Bchemes. Altogether 11 speakers participated in the debate before tiie House rose at 10.30 p.m. TAXATION MEASURES DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL BOTH THE BILLS COMPLETED [BT TELEGRAPH —I>RE!iS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON,' Tuesday The second reading of the Land find Income Tax Amendment Bill was moved in the Legislative Council today by the Leader of the Council, the Hon. M. Fagan, who said the bill was necessary to allow tlio Government to put its budgetary projosals into operation. The pension increases would cost £1,800,000. It was proposed to raise £1,000,000 from income tax and £BOO,OOO by the graduated land tax. Ike Hon. M. Connelly sue-

gested that the Government might consider taxing the reserves of. companies in excess of paid-up capital. There was need for inquiry i ito the huge reserves being created. The Hon. E. R. Davis (Auckland) regretted the increased taxation and said that business initiative would be hindered. He quoted one company which, as a result of the legislation, would have 9s 5d in the pound to divide among shareholders, compared with 13s 7d last year.

The Hon. 11. Mawhote (Wellington) said the graduated land tax might cause hardship among Maoris. The Hon. J. Alexander (Auckland) said people would not oppose taxation if they knew it were : : or defence. He hoped-defence taxation would be increased.

The Hon. C. J. Cairington (Auckland) said that increased taxation must mean high prices through increased costs of production. Replying, Mr. Fagan said that company taxation was greater in 1921 than it was under the bill. The bill was read a second time on the voices. The Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill also wan read a second time on the voices.

Both bill;?/ were put through all stages and passed and the Council adjourned until.Thursday.

PLANNED PRODUCTION NEED IN DOMINION LABOUR MEMBER'S CONTENTION [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday " We are providing legislation that will lead to planned production," said Mr. B. Roberts (Government —Wairarapa) during the Industrial Efficiency Bill debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Roberts said planned production wis what New Zealand needed to-day, and it did not matter much whether it was called co-operation or rationalisation, or anything e | se- i n Great Britain farmers had been coerced into marketing schemes and there had not been the voluntary spirit that had existed in this country. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Opposition— Ejimont): British farmers came into the schemes of their cwn free will. "It was done in the same way as the last Government dealt with the dairy industry here," said Mr. Roberts. " The minority was coerced by the majority." Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition — Waitomo): You have turned round, now. Mr. Roberts said Opposition members had claimed that private enterprise had built up industry in New Zealand. That was largely so, but during the past few years private enterprise had broken down and the time had r<orne for the institution of a more satisfactory form of control. MR. JORDAN AT GENEVA VIEWS AGAIN QUESTIONED [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The views expressed recently at the Assembly of the League of Nations in Geneva by the High Commissioner for Zealand. Mr. W. J. Jordan, were again the subject of reference in the House of Representatives to-day. |n giving notice of a question to .the Minister, Mr. Savage, Mr. W. R. Endean (Opposition—Parnell) asked whether it was possible to reconcile Mr. Jordan's statement that New Zealand would full sanctions on an aggressoi with the statement which he made prior to his departure from Auek"nu that "there will be no need for *ny more troopships to leave New Zealand if I have my way."