PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 17789, 19 July 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

TUESDAY, JULY 18,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINpTON. July IS. The Council met at 3.30 p.m, INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS. Hon. W. EARNSHAW moved that the Government take into consideration "the wisdom*’ of joining with the Commonwealth Government in the appointment of an industrial commission of inquiry, representative of manufacturers and workers to visit the United States to report on the methods of manufacture, production, and conditions of employment. He said that since the war had started we had found out how badly off we were in regard to industrial matters. The present was an opportune time for the discussion of the question with Australia. This country could not afford to lay behind while Australia was developing commercially. If such was permitted, the dominion would simply constitute an industrial recruiting ground for Australia. Hon. J. T. PAUL seconded, He advised New Zealand taking every advantage of working with the Commonwealth. Sir FRANCIS BELL remarked that, while he hoped New Zealand and Australia would join in friendly rivalry, he hoped the day would not come when the dominion would be one of the States of an Australian Commonwealth. The motion was carried. FINANCE BILL. ■ The Finance Bill was read a first time, and the second reading was fixed for to-morrow. The Council rose at 2,55 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS moved a resolution appointing a committee to arrange for the furnishing of the new Parliament buildings which was agreed to. The Minister laid'on the table the Public Works Statement, and intimated that the debate would be taken on Friday next. LAND AND INCOME TAX BILL,

Several amendments to the Land ano Income Tax Bill were introduced by Governor’s message, the alterations all remedying technical difficulties, the principal being in clause 2, omitting from the definition of native land works j’any land which is native land,’’ and substituting the words "Native freehold land.”

Another amendment provided that tn the case of companies engaged in gold mining or scheellte mining, the taxable Income derived by that company in any year shall be deemed, to.be one half the total sum paid as dividends during that year.

He moved that the amendments be agreed to. Mr T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) took exception to the amendments being considered at once. He pointed out objections to several.

Sir JOSEPH WARD said that the clause affecting , mining companies had been put in at tins request of the companies. As the proposal in the Bill involved the sum of £IO,OOO to the Treasury, he had placed the legislation exactly as it was before. Sir JOSEPH WARD replied at some length to criticisms. He said that all the amendments were necessary. .Mr WILFORD said that he did not think objection could be taken to legislation which would compel capitalists to invest their monies in war debentures. He asserted his belief that the peopre would loyally support the war loan if shown that it was required. In the course of further remarks, Sir Joseph Ward ridiculed the idea that balances at credit in the hanks could he utilised. In many cases those sums represented trades balances which were in daily. He asserted that the duty of the Government was to see that nothing would be done which would tend to raise, the rate of interest. The amendments were agreed to. WAR REGULATION BILL. Sir JOSEPH WARD said that lie did not consider that the War Regulations Bill should lie gone on with in the. absence of the Premier and Minister of Defence. Under the extraordinary circumstances lie moved that the House adjourn till to-morrow. The House rose at 9.30 p.m.