PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LAND AND INCOME TAX BILL

MR PAYNE SUSPENDED.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, July 18. The principal.item in a brief sitting of the House of Representatives was the suspension of Mr Payne, member for Grey Lynn. The Minister of Finance had introduced amendments to the Land and Income Tax Bill. During a discussion of the proposal to exempt 4J per cent debenture-holders from income-tax,' Mr Payne repeated his former objections, adding that it was simply in the interests of big financial institutions and ungodly vultures. And he added: "The Minister who brings down such a proposal is one of the biggest traitors to the British Empire." A general protest was followed by Mr Speaker demanding a withdrawal to which. Mr Payne complied. ' Then Sir Joseph AVard suggested that, as he had been called a traitor Mr Payne should apologise. ', Mr Payne absolutely refused, adding that he had never' seen anything so damnable in his life. ° '

A second opportunity of withdrawal was neglected, the member declaring that he would rather go out of political

Mr Payne was suspended for tl# remainder of the sitting, which happened to last only another half-hour Ihe amendments in the Land and Income Tax Assessment Bill were considered the chief being the reinstatement of .the provision that gold mining and scneehte mining companies must pay income-tax. The amendments were adopted.

The House rose at 9.30 p.m.- on the .suggestion of Sir Joseph Ward, who rSil tlia p tth?re ™?- "«■ probability that the Premier would be able to attona on AAednesday, it being advisable that he should be present when so important a measure as the War Re<nilations Amendment Bill, was being discus-