POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11252, 3 July 1922, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

PRESS GALLERY NEWS IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. PASSED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. After from six to seven hours of debate. the House of Representative had passed the Imprest Supply Bill at a late hour on Friday night. The Legislative Council met at 10 a.m. on Saturday, speedily passed the bill through all its stages, and adjourned.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

DEBATE BEGINS TO-MORROW. The House of Representatives meets at 2.30 to-morrow afternoon; but. as the Pj-ime Minister announced on Fridate, the debate on the Address-in-Reply vail not commence till 7.30 p.m. The *A<ldresa-iri-Reply is to be moved by Mr D. Jones (Kaiapoi) and seconded bv Mr Clutha Mackenzie (Auckland East). Mr G. Witty (Riccartou) mas anxious to know last week whether only the speeches of the mover and seconder will be taken to-morrow evening, but the Prime Minister refused to commit himself on the point.

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

WHAT MR SIDEY WANTS TO KNOW. Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) gave notice last week to move for a return showing:—(l) The total area of land purchased for returned soldiers, and the price paid for same; (2) tine amount of accumulated surpluses expended in the purchase of land for returned soldiers; (3) the area and price of land purchased for returned soldiers which was paid for in Government bonds, and the rate of interest on such bonds; (4) the area and price of land purchased for returned soldiers which was purchased on a Government, guarantee; (5) the total amount advanced to returned soldiers for the purchase of (a) stock and implements, and (b) homes; (6) the amount of accumulated surpluses so advanced; and (7) the area now occupied by returned soldiers.

PREMIER A LITTLE MIXED

“SO I HAVE HEARD.” “I always get mixed up between Avon and Christchurch,” admitted the Prime Minister, when me attention was drawn in the House on Friday to the fact that he had misnamed Mr D. G. Sullivan’s constituency. Dr. H. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch East): Because tho Avon flows through Christchurch, I suppose? “So I have heard,” drily retorted Mr Massey.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

REDUCED TAXATION? •‘I have no hesitation in saying that that is one of the most difficult problems we have to face,” said the Prime Minister on Friday, replying to an. interjection in the House of Representatives about the great burden of taxation. “The burden needs to be reduced at the earliest possible moment. That 16 what I want to do.” Mr Atmore: The large taxation is causing unemployment. Mr Massey: The hon. member is quite right; it is one of the difficulties. People are paying heavy taxes to the State and are paying away money which they would otherwise spend in employing labour. That is why I am anxious, when I get the opportunity, to reduce taxation aa far as it is possible to do it. I do not know what the position will be before we get to the end of the session, but I do hope we will be able to make some reduction.

TAX ANOMALIES.

REPORT OF TAXATION COMMITTEE. The committee of business men and others appointed by the Government to inquire into the existing system of taxation in the Dominion and to report thereon, completed its labours on Friday night. The report will be presented to the Minister for Finance today. The committee has conducted its investigations during a considerable period of the past recess, and much evidence has been taken with respect to the incidence of both income and land tax. The witnesses pointed out numbers of respects in winch they held the existing system was manifestly unjust. The members of the committee were: Messrs W. D. Hunt (chairman), E. Anderson, P. Barr, W. Barton, J. Bitch, ener. M.P., W. Gow, E. W. Hunt, A. Leigh Hunt, G. Shirtcliffe, T. Shatter Weston, B. Tripp, and C. J. Ward. The report is of an exhaustive nature, deaiking principally with existing taxes. It recommends what are considered to be improvements in the present system and the changes, with tihe object of removing’ anomalies. It is thought that if these suggestions are givem effect to, the result will be to ease taxation, and remove what expert, once has shown to be hardships. It is understood that the report contains no recommendations of a startling or farreaching nature in the way of new taxation or changes. At the conclusion of the labours of' the committee, the chairman said that, before separating, be desired to acknowledge the valuable assistance which had been given to the committee by the Commissioner of Taxes (Mr D. G. Clark). The committee bad had tv consult him on many points, and the information so generronely given to the committee by Mr Clark had been invaluable. The dh airman acknowledged in appreciative terms the services rendered by the secretary (Mr W. H Phillips). Mr Tripp, in moving a vote of thanks to the chairman, eulogised Mr W. D. Hunt’s services—emphasising the impartial manner in which be had oar Tied out his duties. These sentiments were heartily endorsed by other members of the committee.

Mr W. D. Hunt suitably acknowledged the vote of thanks.