“MENTAL EXERCISES”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 6 November 1934, Page 7

“MENTAL EXERCISES”

INTERLUDE IN HOUSE 2 LIVELY CROSS-TALK \ FARM RATING RELIEF (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Amusing cross-talk between Opposition memifets and the Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, followed the introduction of further amendments of the Finance Bill in the House last night designed to extend the 12j, per cent, rebate on rates to urban farm lands of a certain category. . “Where is the money coming, from ! asked critics, and when the Minister of Finance endeavoved to explain he met with further interjections, which led to Mr. W. Nash (Lab., Hutt) exclaiming: “Well, you are a clover chap. 1 ’ Mr. Coates explained that when the bill was first discussed, comment took the line where it was suggested that farm lands within boroughs would tail to get any benefit from the rate subsidy. The amendment dealt with the point of farm lands in urban areas. Mr. 12.'J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch S.) : What is the definition? Does it include fowls and rabbits? Mr. Coates replied that the bill, as amended, 1 would enable the rate subsidy to; b« payable in respect of the following: (a) A|l lands situated within any county used exclusively or principally for agricultural, horticultural, or pastoral purposes; (b) all lands situated within any road district in a county in which the Counties’ Act is in full force, used exclusively or principally for agricultural, horticultural, or pastoral purposes; and.(c) all urban farm lands, within the meaning ’of the Urban Farm Land Rating Act, 1932, included as at February 28, 1935, in any farm-land roll under that Act. FROM HIGHWAYS FUND? v., ■., - “Is this benefit to be paid out of the highways fund's, £500,000 already proasked tile Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Coates: The £500,000 was taken from, the, highways fund to assist the consolidated' fund. It comes out of that. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Lab., Manukau) raised the question of such areas as Eden county, which did not come under the Counties’ Act, as they included big boroughs and road districts. Would the rebate benefit go to farm lands in those areas? he asked.

. Mr. J. A. Nash (Coal., _ Palmarston) asked if relief would be given to ratepayers such as those in the Manawatu drainage area, where some levies .were extremely heavy, running into £1 an acre for drainage rates. Mr. W. Nash suggested that the amendment meant that urban farm lands already subject to deductions from 25 to 50 per cent, of borough rates would now get an additional 12J per cent, rebate. Was that what the bill meant? •Mr. Coates: That’s what you asked the other day. Mr. Nash: And that's what you were anxious for me to ask. I said nothing about it. He has taken £500,000 from the main highways fund and transferred it to the consolidated fund, and says that the £250,000 is a charge on the consolidated fund. He has shifted his ground, and very cleverly says it conies from that portion of the consolidated fund which holds the motorists' cash. I suggest that he is afraid *of the motorists. The chairman: Order! The word “afraid’’ is not Parliamentary. MOTORISTS' AGITATION Mr. ’ Nash smilingly withdrew, but reiterated that the Minister was impressed by the motorists’ agitation in the

Mf. A. E. Ansell (Goal., Chalmers):

Mr. Nash': I suggest that he Is. Mr. Ansell: I got my answer before it gob into the press. Mr. Coates smilingly suggested that the member for Hutt had been doing mental exercises since Friday. It sounded very fine, but if he looked at the amended clause closely it was no different from the previous one. Mr. Nash: It was coming out of the main highways fund. The Minister: So this is, too.

Mr. Ndsh: Well, you are a clever chap. (Laughter.) Mr. J. O’Brien (Lab., Westland): Dip into my can; your can leaks. Mr. Coates was about to make a sharp answer when the chairman of committees reminded him that he should not reply to frivolous interjections. However, the Minister mhnaged to get out an explanation that when he got the can he would block the first hole he found.

Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn): You are blocking the spout. Mr. Coates explained that he understood in regard to road boards adjacent to Auckland, where the Counties* Act did not apply, that they took advantage of the Urban Farms Rating Act and would get the benefit. The amendment was agreed to.