PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14347, 27 October 1910, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per • Press ’Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. lu tho Legislative Council the Attor-ney-General moved tho second reading of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Dill, which provides that where any person who is imprisoned for nonpayment of a fine or in respect of default of sufficient distress to satisfy such fine, pays any sum in part satisfaction of the fine and of any costs and charges for which he is liable, tho term of his imprisonment shall be reduced in proportion to the amount paid. The Dili was read a second time. Tho Stone Quarries Dill was further , considered in committee, and progress again reported. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, the Ministers stated*that it was impossible to say when the House would be given an opportunity to adopt or otherwise the recommendations of the Timber Commissioners; that it is intended to have the W ages Protection and Contractors Lions Art, 1908, revised during the recess, with a view of romoviiig'anomalies and inconsistencies from the same; that provision is being made in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Hill for quarterly sittings of the court in each of the four centres. The Lands Committee reported on the petition of tho settlors in the Thames Valley, praying for the removal of restrictions on settling of lands in that district. The committee recommended tho petition to tho favourable consideration of tho Government. On tho motion of Mr. E. H. Taylor (Thames) it was agreed to have tho report and evidence printed. The remainder of tho afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing the answers to questions. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. In the House of Representatives in the evening the Commercial cret Commissions, and Post and Telegraphs Rills were road a third time and passed. Sir Joseph Ward moved that the amendments of tho Council in the Land and Income Tax Bill should be agreed to. Sir. Massey entered a protest against the Bill. While agreeing with tho graduated income tax, ho saw no reason for increasing the burdens of the people approximately by £IOO,OOO a year, seeing that the country’s finances were, buoyant. The Premier pointed to the faet that tho Dominion had adopted a system of sotting aside a portion of its surplus revenue for public works, ho as to avoid borrowing. It was ridiculous to cavil at the proposed taxation, and equally absurd to say that taxation would lie passed on. Mr. Massey’s theorising was based on the financial authorities of past ages, and would not satisfy men in the back-blocks. The motion was agreed to. On the motion for the third rending, Mr. T. K. Taylor moved, ns an amendment, that in view of the large surpluses accruing this year, proving that the Dominion's finances are in a buoyant condition, and that people have tho right, to spend their incomes as they think fit, after paying tho taxes necessary for government; and that the Hill exempts incomes over £2OOO a year from heavier taxation; and that the known surpluses would justify reduction in taxation ; the House, while approving tho principle of graduated taxation, is of opinion that the Bill should In l read this day six months. Ho wont on to criticise tho financial system, which he characterised ns ono of patchwork and undemocratic. On the amendment being nut, it was lost by 53 to 13. At midnight tho debate was still going on. WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. After midnight the Land and Income Tax Bill was tend a third timo and passed. The Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill was read a third time and passed, Sir Joseph Ward stating that ho would next session set up a committee of both Houses to consider tho proposed new Bill. Tho House rose at 12.55.