PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12064, 20 July 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 19. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced by Mr "Wright, and read a first time : Borough of Ivarori Empowering; "Wellington City Trading Departments Reserves and Renewal Funds; Day's Bay Sanitation and. "Water Supply. A DDR ESS-IN-REPLY. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by Mr M'Callum, who criticised the methods of the Minister of Defence in sending reinforcements. He contended that Parliament knew nothing of what was being done, and things were done which never should have been attempted without the consent of Parliament. On the understanding that New Zealand would shortly become the centre of a number of dependencies, he approved of the title Governor-General referred to in the Speech from the Throne, but be regretted that the Speech made no reference to proposed domestic legislation. many useful measures being urgently needed. He deprecated handing over the management of hospital ships to the Governor, and warned the Ministry that any attempt to raise the Governor's salary on account of the added dignity would be strongly resented by Parliament.."" Mr Scott spoke briefly, generally commending the work of" tho. National Cabinet.. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.80 p.m. Tho debate was continued by .Mr Brown (Napier). Ho complained that what was supposed to be a, National Cabinet had deteriorated into a farmers' Government, in many of its actions displaying tho Toryism characteristic of farmers. There was nothing National about the Government, especially about the Minister of Defence, who 'was a self-appointed autocrat. He condemned tho inadequate nature of the pensions awarded widows and mothers of soldiers and declared that the House had never intended that such niggardly treatment should be meted out, whatever the Government intended. Now that the Second Division was about to be called up the position had becomo more acute and he, doubted if tho Minister of Defence was capable of dealing with it. The Minister ought to be relieved of his position as Ministers in Britain had been relieved. He defended the butter-fat levy and the purchase of wheat in Australia, which lie contended had kept down the price of bread. The. Government should assist, soldiers wita insurance premiums and generally do something practical to help the boys going out to fight. The tiouble was that nothing was being done and while members might talk! all the thlk was in vain. ft seemed to him that nothing but, an election ould In nig Ministers to then* senses. Mr W ltty followed. His speech is reported in another column. Mr Statham protested against the action of the military authorities in giving men who broke down in camp leave without pay. It. was true that some provision was made for such men, but it was capable of much improvement, the men lining sometimes stranded before their cases were investigated He contended that they should* continue to receive ordinary pay until their claim was settled. The only case where the Government could justly refuse to grant these men a, pension was where they withheld necessarv information or supplied false information. Coming to the cost of living, tho speaker regretted that the Government had not seen its way to take over the whole export trade at the beginning of the war. ITo feared that the Government had missed a golden opportunity, and this mistake was accentuated bv the failure to impose an export tax, which at 1 per cent would yield £300,000 per annum without working injustice or hardship to anyone. The excess profits tax was imposed entirely on wrong lines, and worked a cruel injustice on many people who made no war profits in the true sense of the word. He quoted instances to support his contentions. He urged the withdrawal of this tax, and the imposition of an increase in the graduated income tax. He also favoured an amusement, tax, preferably on race meetings, theatres, picture shows and concerts, as a wholesome check on extravagance as well as a useful reminder to the people that men were fighting for the freedom which made these things possible. A comprehensive scheme of taxing luxuries should be devised, and he considered a, restrictive tax on the liquor traffic was the best way of limiting its evils. Increased provision for old" age pensioners was urged to help them to meet the stress of the times. To provido this cost a direct levy should he made on the capital wealth* of the Dominion- If the Government attempted to raise the whole required revenue by taxation it would be. found that capital would be withdrawn from the country, and as the war was being waged incidentally for the protection of privat.o wealth it was a fair thing that it should bear a substantial share of the cost and to make provision for those to whom the war directly brought serious financial sacrifice. He favoured some restriction on the liquor traffic, but did not favour six o'clock closing without compensation.

The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Sykes, and the House rose at 10.00 p.m. *