PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1924, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

AMUSEMENT TAX REDUCED. FREE UP TO TWO SHILLINGS. OTHER BILLS APPEAR. v‘ 1 . j>! By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The Amusement Tax Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr- Massey said the operating clause of the Bill was one under which a tax was not levied where the charge for admission was two shillings and under. The Bill was read a first time. The amendment to the Post and Telegraph Act was introduced by Governor’s message. The Hon. J. G. Coates explained that the Bill dealt principally with broadcasting, parcels and routine matters. The Bill was read a first time. RAILWAY SERVICE. The Government Railways Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. The Hon. J. G. Coates said that under the existing law the railway service was the only one in which the classification was by Act. This Bill proposed to put the classification on the same footing as in other branches of the public service, viz., that it should be done by Order-in-Council- This would enable the classification to be carried out quicker and would make the whole matter easier of administration. The Education Reserves Act Amendment ‘Bill was introduced by Governor’s message.

The Hon. C. J. Parr explained that these reserves were by arrangement managed for the Education Department by the Lands Department, and the Bill was designed to improve the machinery by which this could be done. TAXATION BILL. Replying to Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South), Mr. Massey said he doubted whether he could delay consideration of the Land and Income Tax Bill, which was not coming down until members could read through the evidence taken by the Taxation Commission, as the document was rather bulky, while the Bill was necessary to the department. Replying to the Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi), Mr. Massey said he would in future endeavour to indicate to .borrowers from the State Advances Department the date on which their application would be dealt with- This was done in many cases now. SOLDIERS ON LAND. Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle (Awarua) referred to published statements in regard to the revaluation of soldiers’ hind, and asked whether it was the policy of the Revaluation Board to entirely disregard the •improvements effected by soldiers during their term of occupancy. The Minister for Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) stated the Dominion Revaluation Board was acting strictly within the provisions of the Act, which aimed at placing all soldiers in a position to carry on at fair overhead charges. It must be remembered that these properties were freehold, where the Crown was first mortgagee, and as such the Crown had a right to expect that if security would be respected all Crown charges, such as the original advance and subsequent advances on current account for improvements, were brought to a charge as liabilities, and where these exceeded the valuation by a district revaluation committee, then a reduction was made. The total reductions made on Crown mortgages to date amounted to £375,471, though it would appear that the men were not being prejudiced. THE COAL INDUSTRY.

The Hon. G. J- Anderson brought down the annual report of the Mines Department. Mr. H. E. Holland (leader of the Labour Party), speaking to the report, said he noticed that since 1918 the cost of bringing a ton of coal to the surface had not been given. In 1918 the cost was 15s 4d per ton, of whidh 7s Id was represented by labour, but no figures had been given since that year. Mr. Holland also complained that for every four tons of coal produced in the Dominion one ton was imported. This was unreasonable, because the Doni inion was able tq, produce jp.ll the coal required for local consumption if industry was only properly organised. In reply, the Hon. G. J. Anderson promised that figures regarding the cost of the production of a ton of coal would be given in next year’s report. As to the importation of coal, everyone regretted this had to be done- There never would have been any importations had it been possible to arrange for forward deliveries of the large quantities of coal required, not only by the Railways Department, which was the largest user, but by gas works and various industrial organisations. These supplies could not, however, be counted on to-day.

Referring to the co-operative mines at Seddonville, the Minister said the miners had at times experienced difficulty in selling their coal, principally, he thought, because they lacked business experience. The Government had endeavoured to assist them, but this had not always been a fortunate thing for the State. Mr. Massey laid on the table the report of the Public Trust Office. LABOUR MEMBERS’ BILLS. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) moved for leave to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which proposed to bring under the Arbitration Court those workers exempted by clause 71 of the original Act. After a brief discussion leave was granted, and the Bill was introduced and read a first Mr. Fraser moved for leave to introduce the Housing Amendment Bill. The BiJi proposed that a committee of the House or a Royal Commission be set up to go into the whole question of the housing shortage with a view to ascertaining what wm required to overtake that shortage. He proposed that either the Premier or the Minister for Labour be chairman of the committee or commission, and that such information be gathered as would enable them to deal intelligently with the problem. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned for dinner and the matter therefore lapsed.

The House went into committee on the Prevention of Crime and Borstal Institutions Establishment Bill. The

Bill was reported with minor amendments moved by the Minister. The House rose at 12.25 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.