HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Speaker took tho chair at 2.30 p.lll. • UNEMPLOYED IN DUNEDIN. "Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) asked tho Minister of Public Works whether his attention had boon drawn to tho statement that there were 'a large number of men out of work in Dunedin, and whether ho had taken any steps to placo tho men on works Minister of Public Works (Hon. W. Fraser) replied that 'ho had no information on tho subject that could bo called official. His attention had been drawn to it that morning by tho member for Chalmers, and ho had also seen a newspaper paragraph stating that there Were a certain number of men out of work in Dunedin. IE thoro wore a number of unemployed, it was surely tho duty of the Mayor of tho city to inform tho Minister of tho subject. As soon as he (Mr Fraser) had hoard about tho matter ho had communicated with his officers and also with tho district engineer to seo how many men could be placed on works. Mr Fraser added that rough work was the only kind available for unemployed in and about Dunedin. As s6on as ho had some official information he would at once eee that men were placed at such work, ; NEW BILLS. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) gave notice of his intention to introduce tho Police Offences Amendment Bill. The Defamation Bill (Hon. A. L. Herdman) and thd Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Loan Bill (Mr H. M. Campbell) were introduced; tho former being road a first time, and the latter being referred to tho Local Bills Committee. The Land’ and Income Assessment Amendment Bill, and the Police Force Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time. __ ~ Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) asked the Minister of Finance if ho would give some idea of tho alterations proposed in the Land and Income Tax Assessment Bill. Tho Hon. James Allen replied that tho Government, by the amending Bill, were liberalising the provisions of the Act. Hitherto no provision had been made for exemption of people with children. It was now proposed to allow an exemption of £25 for each child, with a limit of four children, so that the exemption proposed Was for a further £IOO. Formerly tho law in one direction had not been operative regarding tho obtaining of information from, hanks referring to incomes. The amending Bill contained a danse to give effect to this part of tho law. This clause would bo made operative Sfrom April Ist last. The amendment proposed in this direction would simply jcivo effect to the administration of the Land and Income Tax Department.

In the absence of Mr A. S. Malcolm, Mr W. Nosworthy (Ashburton) took the chair while the House was in Committee on these Bills. MILITARY PROBLEMS.

The Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, gave notice to move that a Select Committee bo appointed consisting of ten members, to consider the amendments made in the defence legislation by the Act of 1912, in their relation to military custody, alternative service, and such other matters as the Minister of Defence may refer i to it; the Committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report to the House within twenty-one days three to be a quorum, and the Committee to consist of Messrs Bradnoy, Myers, Isitt, Davey, Escott, Veitch, E. Newman, Statham, Coates,-and the Hon. James Allen.