ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11505, 29 September 1915, Page 1

ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. WELLINGTON, September 23. A SCENE. " H is not so much what he says as it is the way in which he says it," is 4-hf colloquialism in which members have had some occasion to complain of the Hon James Allen's brusque fashion of answering verbal questions. Anyone reading the bare account oi the scene in the House yesterday afternoon might imagine Mr Wilford had little excuse for being betrayed into using an unparliamentary interjection. There was nothing in the Minister s words to give any serious offence, and no one but Mr Wilford appears to have noticed anything particularly objectionable in his manner. But there is an o'd personal feud between these doughty antagonists, and probably the member I for Mutt detected the shrug of a shouLI der or the elevation of eyebrow that ! escapod the attention of other memI bcrs. Of course, the Prime Minister I was taking his stand on h:gh precedent when he contended that the ruling of the Speaker, right or wrong, had to be upheld, but Mr Allen missed ; a rare chance to score off his opponent I when he omitted to ask that his mdisI cretion might be pardoned. The finer thrusts of party wavfare are sadly neglected iu the present parliament. TAXATION AND CONTRIBUTION. The point Mr Wilford was trying to make when he put his question to the Minister has been freely discussed in i tho lobbies ever since the session open- ! ed. Of course, everybody is anxious i to contribute to the war funds, and ' patriotic funds, and wounded soldiers' funds, to the utmost of his ability in money or kind or labour, but there is a growing feeling that the provision of hospital ships, like the despatch of troops, is a burden that should be borne by the State. In no other way, it is contended, can there be any ap> | proach to equality of sacrifice, or any assurance of sufficiency and efficiency. Even if this were done, members point outt there would still remain many opportunities for the generous giver to follow the impulses of his warm heart. I There are comforts and little luxuries 'to be provided for the men at the front. There is ass'stance for widowed wives and orphaned children, and there is provision for maimed soldiers, to mention only a few of the directions in wlvch private benevolence can expend itself. THE FINANCE BILL. The Finance Bill, which contains the Government's amended taxation proposals, and which was brought down by Governor's message this afternoon, justifies several of the sugestions that were made to the Minister of Finance during tho discussion of the Budget, The proposed duty on kerosene and other mineral oifc nas been abandoned and a 1 per,cent duty on imports, with certain exceptions, substituted. The mortgage tax has been raised from three farthings in the pound to one penny, preparatory, it is understood, to repealing it altogether in favour of an j income tax, and the proposed excise duty on be?r has been readjusted to yield an additional £20,000, bringing the total increase up to £70,000 or £BO.OOO. The new proposals are not escaping criticism of a more or less trenchant character, but it is admitted that they will produce the amount of additional revenue required and that appears to be the chief concern of the Government just now. THE LEGISLATIVE TETHER. In answer to an inquiry from Mr Witty this afternoon as to what further legislation the Government intended to pass this session, the Prime Minister stated that as soon as the Finance Bill was dispoed of he would be in a position to make a statement. He did not think the remaining bills would take very long, and expressed the hope thru they would be able to close the session about the middle of next week. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' REQUEST. Replying to Mr Fletcher to-day Sir Joseph Ward said that while he would like to assist friendly societies, which were doing excellent work, he could not grant them exemption of the new post- , ages rates, which had sought. Fe pointed out that the Government had already offered to pay haif the contnbui tions of members who were away at the war, but, as the increased postal revei nue was entirely for helping to pay war obligations no remissions could be cou- ! templated.