PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15316, 11 September 1920, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

INCOME TAX EXEMPTION. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Premier, in answering a question, cleared up a misconception prevailing in , Wellington regarding war loans free of income tax. It was suggested that a clause relating to payment of income tax on Government and other debentures is a breach of faith with the hplders of war bonds, but Mr. Massey said that this is not to be the case. Where the mistake had apparently been made was that they had not noticed the reference, in the clause was to assessable income, whereas income derivable from war loan {ree of income tax was not assessable income. He thought this was quite plain in the clause, because the Government had not the slightest intention to commit any breach of faith in connection with these loans. • ■ I WOOL PROFITS. . I "The first distribution of wool profits to -Ne\v~Zealand growers is now in progress," said Mr. Massey. "The sum is £1,60.0,000." He was asked what is the amount of the second instalment, replying that the English head of the Imperial purchase' department expected the amount to be even larger than the first sum, but personally he did not agree with this estimate, his idea being that it would probably be a million sterling. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S RESIDENCES.

The Premier stated that Lord Jellicoe is expected to arrive in three weeks to take, up his duties as Governor-General, and as there were extensive alterations needed at Wellington Government House, it was necessary that Lord Jellicoe and family should go into residence at Auckland for a time.. Mr. Parry made a protest against the' use of urgently-needed building materials in repairing and extending Auckland Oovernment House, but Mr. Massey suggested that as this residence was somewhat dilapidated it, was desirable to do sfl'me work in preparation for his Excellency.

TEACHING SERVICE: MORE ATTRACTIONS, i

With the preliminary observation Jhat 1300 uncertificated teackers are atf work in New Zealand, Mr. McCombs asked the Minister of Education what he intended to do to attract rgcruits to the profession by placing pupil teachers in as good a posit io'n as entrants to public • service or Bank of New Zealand. He poinfetl out that a person ageti 16 would get £100 a year on entering the public service, but only; £35 In teaching, plus £25 if obliged to live away from florae. At the age of 20 Hhe entrant got £2i5 in the public service, £210 in the Bank of New Zealand, and £85, plus board allowance, in the teaching profession. After ten years' service a public . service employee got £326; and a Bank of New Zealand employee £270, but teachers had to compete for, appointments, and no assured position ,was available, to them. He favored a minimum of £200 for a qualified t teach'er. The Minister of Education replied that under the new scheme pupil teachers ~ would have a more attractive position^ They would, on enterlug the seryice|-fte put in 'practically the same position jas other entrants to the public service.^. The Education Department was vigorously preparing to attract a't least 1000 pupil teachers to the training schools th $ year. This would no three, times- th if. usual number entering training colleg s each year. He hoped that as the res lit of an intonsive cotirso of training; ioj t teachers they would be able to ; turn ' lit sufllclent. to be able to reduce the.^ kitee classes, so that, instead of one • sacher havijtg control of a class*of 100,': t\ would be reduced to 35 or 40 children. ' * MR. WITTY DEFIANT.

The member -for. Ricorton found himself standing alone in what he believed to be a' tight for members' privileges last night. He had. very strongly insisted on the commencement of the discussion on the education estimates that each small section should be put separately, to a vote instead of the whole vote being submitted <n one motion, which wojild have limited members' speeches to four. The Minister of Education willingly agreed. to the suggestion, but after seven hours' talk, with little progress, Mr. Wilford suggested putting the whole vote, so that' members could promptly clear up all points they wished to dis« cuss. There was unanimous agreement, for midnight had arrived, but Mr. Witty who had been absent when this arrangement was effected, came 4)ac,k in a defiant mood, threatening" a division on every item, even if it kept the House sitting until Sunday. Unfortunately for his plan he ran out of opportunities. Then he hurriedly canvassed Tnembers in the; vUtnity -i>*f«et'-*sonie amendment moved. Nobo.dy responded. Mr. Lysnar, during the discussion discovered that he could not deal with individual teachers' salaries, as they are fixed by statute. He disgustedly declared that if the opportunity was so limited he might as well go home, and, [unlike Mr. Witty, he was able to carry but his plan. EXCHANGE OF QIFTS.

Mr. Massey read a communication from the Canadian Government, which was an acknowledgment of a consignment 01 kauri timber sent by the New Zealand Government to be used in the new Canadian House of Parliament. The letter stated that the gift was greatly appreciated and Jn return the Canadian Government was sending a quantity of Canadian walnut and bird's-eye maple to be worked into our new legislative ohambers. Mr. Massey said this might appear to toe a small thing, but it showed there was good feeling prevailing between the different parts of the Empire. •"■'••