PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14346, 26 October 1910, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. In tlio Legislative Council this afternoon the Education Bill was read a second time, and referred to a Select Committee. 'The Animals Protection Bill and River Boards Bill wore read a third time and passed. The stone quarries Bill was committed and progress reported at clause 3, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House met at 2.30 pm. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice of motion that on and after Monday next tho House meet on Mondays at 2.30 p.m. for tho transaction of Govornmen business only. Tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma. Tho amendments of the Legislative Council in the Defence Amendment Bill were agreed to. The House went into committo on the Commercial Trusts Bill. Replying to Mr. Herries, Sir Joseph Ward refused to delay the coining into operation of the Bill beyond J anuary, lull. One or two trusts-were operating in New Zealand ,and the sooner they were got out the better. Ho did pot wish to load up tho measure with limitations regarding profits. Therefore he had inserted tlio qualification* “fair and reasonable.” The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. In the House in the evening consideration of the Commercial Trusts Bill was resumed in commiteo. Clause 8, providing that prices bo deemed unreasonably nigh if they produced more than reasonable profit, evoked considerable discussion, members wishing to know how it was possible to estimate unreasonable profit. Sir Joseph Ward said that in arriving at an estimate of undue profits the sening xitice would be taken into consideration. The public would ho tlio best judges of what were abnormally high prices, and would make it known when these were being charged. Mr. Buchanan, speaking on the meat-freezing industry, did not object to the prevention ol monopoly. In most cases tho farmer was represented on meat companies. Mr. Massey failed to see that the Bill would attain its object of the prevention of monopolies, tor many were not included in the schedule. There was no provision in tho Bill for setting the penal clauses of the Jaw in motion. The Premier replied that the recovery of any.sum over a certain amount must bo brought by action in the Supremo Court. Tho Opposition was evidently opposed to anti-trust legislation. The Bill was reported unamended. 'Tho House went into committee on the Secret Commissions Bill, which passed through committee unamended. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill was reported from committee with a new clause by Sir Joseph Ward giving tlio Governor power to take, passession of telegraph stations in times'of war or danger of war. This, tho Prime Minister explained, was intended to apply to privately-owned cable stations. The Land and Income Tax Bill was committed Mr. Massey moved to add to clause 1: “And shall como into operation on the repeal of the surtax provided for by the Customs Duties Amendment Act, 1909.” Sir Joseph Ward said that passing the amendment would mean that taxation would ho deferred for a year. He had reason to belfove that tho classes upon which the taxation was imposed did not object to the graduated income tax. Mr. Taylor said he would move, on the third reading, that tho Bill ho read this day six months. After further discussion, tho motion, as altered, was put and negatived by ■l3 to 27. At danse 2, an amendment by Mr. G. Pearce to exempt assessments of under £3OOO from tho land tax was defeated by 47 to 23. After midnight Mr. Herries moved that the class of income in respect of which 8d per pound is payable (£6OO to £700) bo increased from £6OO to £BOO. This was rejected by 45 votes to 23. Sir W. J. Steward moved that an income tax payer be allowed an exemption of £25 for every member of his family wholly dependent on him for maintenance. On a division the amendment was lost by 34 to 32. Mr. Massey moved a new danse to the effect that section 11 of the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act should not apply to a financial, commercial, or industrial institution which holds land solely for the purposes of its business. This was lost by 44 votes to 19. , The Bill was reported with amendments. The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message and read the first time. The House rose at 2 o’clock.