GRADUATED LAND TAX

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 29 September 1936, Page 4

GRADUATED LAND TAX

MR. COLEMAN’S DEFENCE A BREEZY INTERLUDE NATIONALISTS TWITTED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The member for Gisborne, Air. D. W. Coleman, was a central figure in a breezy interlude in the House of Representatives’ debate on the graduated land taxation proposals, when he occasioned more than one reminder from the Speaker that, in the -warmth of his defence of the Government’s plans lie was straying rather wide of the subject;. At one stage Mr. Speaker noted the participation of the Hon. W. E. Parry in cross-talk, and suggested that, the Minister should assist him in Ins rather difficult task of keeping order in the 1 louse.

The cross-talk arose out of Mr. Coleman’s twitting of Opposition members on their past performances and speeches, and his. references to the member for Ivgmont's statement that the Government had not yet carried out its. promise to cut down the term of Parliament to three years. Mr. Coleman remarked that (he Opposition speaker imagined that the Government was not satisfying the people, and that 'at the next election it would be turned out. He had further inferred that because the Government had not yet introduced a bill to restore the three-year term, it did not propose to do so.' There were still two years of the three-year term to run, Mr. Coleman reminded the House, and plenty of time remained for such a bill. The member for Gisborne was discussing Ibis matter further, when the Speaker interposed a reminder that what he was saying had little relation to the bill before the House, and in reply Mr. Coleman said that he was simply stating that the people of New Zealand were happy and contented, and were not looking forward to the opportunity of turning the Government out. Mr. Speaker: Might T point out to the lion, gentleman that his point in regard to the three-year Parliament was quite in order, when made in passing, but he should not make a speech upon it. MORE SPENDING POWER Accepting this reminder, Mr. Coleman went on to refute the contention that, the graduated land tax would cause hardship to a great number, and that the people in business were greatly perturbed. Quoting from a northern paper, lie read a. statement which indicated that city business men were enjoying a marked increase in retail trade, particularly at the week-ends, as a result of the shorter hours and restoration of wages to tlie 1931 level, and that the Christmas shopping period was expected to create records. Calling the member for Gisborne to order, the Speaker asked him to relate liis remarks to the bill under discussion, and the opportunity was taken by Mr. S. G. Holland (Nat., Christchurch N.) to ask if a newspaper correspondent’s story was lo he taken ns evidence of recovery. Mr. Coleman replied that it simply bore out. what everyone—even the member for Christchurch North—could sec every day. The Hon. W. E. Parrv : And he knows that. Mr. Coleman: no knows that. Mr. Parry : They all know it, and so do we. Mr. Speaker: Older! I would ask the Minister to help me in maintaining order -in the House. It is extremely jiliii'iill at times to control it. ■‘AGIN THE GOVERNMENT” Continuing his speech, Mr. Coleman declared that the bill would mean more spending power for many of the people, the finance from such a measure as this would be the means of giving it to them, t'lie member for Stratford, lie said, had oecn bitter in bis opposition to the bill, Imt they had to remember that he had been just as bitter in opposition to the earlier Government which had removed the graduated land tax. Mr. W. .1. Poison (Nat.) had been opposed to the tax being removed : and he was opposed to its reinstatement, lie had said : ”1 want, to state quite frankly here that 1 do not think that wealthy aggregators ot laud —and there are such in this country co-day-—should wholly escape a graduated land tax at a time when the country needs ail the revenue that it is possibly to obtain.” He had further stated that he could name men who were aggregating land, and who did not deserve to escape; and that- while he, would lie affected personally hy the abolition d the (ax, lie thought that only where hardship was being caused should there he any exemption.

lie could go on quoting the member for .Stratford, said Mr. Coleman, hut he did not think it was, necessary. What he had quoted showed that Mr. Poison was like Paddy—agin the Government. He had been opposed to the Betorm 'Government; he had opposed.the Coalition Government; and now be was opposed to the Labour Government. Jl certainly seemed that, whatever Government, was in power, he must be “agin it'.”

Mr. ,). A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn) Not very much opposed to the-other Gov ermnents.

HAXSARD QUOTATIONS

Mr. Coleman : 1 agree with the member for Grey Lynn, fie was just sufficiently opposed to those Governments to give the impression to a number in his constituency that he was an Independent. The Gisborne member then went on to refer to the record of (lie member tor Pahiatua. Sir Alfred Ransom, who could not say strong enough tilings against the graduated land lax to-day, but bail, lie said, been one of the most bittei critics of the Reform (invermnent in 1931 when it abolished the same tax. lie had gone so far as to name in the House the people who were being on - aided In evade payment of taxation which lie tlicn held to be absolutely justified; and had mentioned names id wealthy people who would benefit by the repeal, fortifying Ids arguments by giving lull details of the affairs of these people. What was to lie made of Ids extraordinary change of front. Mr. Coleman asked.

The speaker then went on to refer lo the need for the tax, the revenue of which would help lo furnish a better standard of living lor the people as u whole. He din not claim that the graduated land tax was the last, word in fin mice, but be agreed with the I’iiinc- Minister, the Minister of Finance and others who held it lo be a necessary expedient, lie was satisfied that the people would welcome the bill as a step forward in making good the promises of Labour candidates on the electoral platforms of the country.