Parliament

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXI, Issue 19, 11 August 1920, Page 5

Parliament

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Per Press Association. Wellington, August 10. Replying to Mr Sidey, Mr Massey said the Government had done, and •would do, everything possible to keep down the rate of interest. Replying to Mr Atmore, the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said the com niittee appointed to report on sites suitable for the National War Memorial had looked at three sites, and would report to the committee on Friday next, and the decision then come to would be reported to Cabinet on Saturday.

Replying to Mr'Savage, the Hon Sir William Henries said he was hopeful that the negotiations between the Colonial Sugar Company and theiF'employees would be so conducted as to avert a strike.

Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said he had already agreed to art adjustment between the Railways and Mines Departments, which should have resulted in a settlement of the trouble at the State coal mine He was convinced that the trouble which resulted in a stoppage of work at the mine must he due to some misunderstanding.

Replying to Mr Wilford. Mr Massey said . that when the banking legislation was before the House lie would consider whether some reasonable system could be devised by which banks could take care of bearer bonds owned by people who were not customers of the bank.

Replying to Mr Wilford, the Hon. Dr. Pomare said he did not think it would be necessary to further inquire into the grievances of white settlers at Raratonga. An alteration in the law would bo made this session giving white settlers representation on the Native Council, which, he understood, removed their principal grievance.

Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said the military censorship of letters would have to b e removed by statute, as it came in by statute. A Bill to do this was now before the House 1 . LAND AND INCOME TAX. The Land and Income Tax Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. Mr .iMnssey explained that this Bill was merely the annual Bill fixing the ratpj uf these taxes as from April 1. 1920. There would be no alteration in last.year’s rate. .The Finance 13.11, which would come down later, would not aflect anything contained in this Bill Mr Veitch contended that the time had arrived when the Government must take into consideration a readjustment of the whole incidence of taxation, kb'that the rich may bear a heavier share of the burden. It was proposed to take £6,250,000 from the people through the Customs, of which the* poor have to pay the greater share, Against this enormous sum the increases in land and income taxes were small indeed.

Mr Parry supported this view in the interests of the working classes.

Mr Statham said our present system of taxation was full of anomalies; even the Government would admit that; and he therefore ashed he Government to postpone this I?ill u i til the Finance Hill could he considered. They we'e only proposing to raise an additional £22,000 by way of land and income tax, but over £l,000,000 by way of Customs, and this, he thought, was altogether wrong. Dr. Newman also pleaded for delay. He had a number of amendments before the Public Accounts Committee, which might be considered for the iimmediate relief of taxpayers. Mr Holland said our system of taxation should proceed along the lines of taxing heavily the man with a very large income and a large estate, and it should not be levied with so much regard to what was taken from the man as to what was left to him. The man with an income of £6-50 should not he touched until the man with £IO,OOO had been brought down to that level. This might appear revolutionary, but it was scientific. The Dill was read a first time. HOSPITAL LEGISLATION. The Hospital and Charitable Institution Act Amendment was introduced by Governor’s message. Mr Massey said the Hill was not a consolidating measure, but included a large number of amendments found necessary from time to time.

Replying to Mr McCombs, the Hon. C. J. Parr said it woutd not be possible to nationalise our system of hospitals, except under an additional expenditure of £500,000, and he was not disposed to go to Cabinet and ask for that sum to do it. The present system of subsidies to local bodies was .working out unfairly, and a. new schedule would be submitted to the House this session. The Hill was read a first time. The measure was referred to the Public Health Committee. WAR LEGISLATION. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws Amendment and Continuance Rill. He explained that the Bill repe; ■ ed certain features of war legislat.on no longer found necessary, while it continued others which could not yet he dispensed with. There was no policy in the Bill, as it dealt with a number of provisions which had no relation to each other. The subjects on which legislation was not repealed, were monopoly prevented, rotation of crops on Crown lands, and the housing f|uestion. The discussion continued until 1.30 when the House rose.