PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 14. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. WAR LOAN. Sir Joseph Ward laid on the table of the House tho prospectus of the war loan. BILLS. The Rivers.Boards Act Amendment Bill (Hon G. W. Russell) and New Zealand Inscribed Stock Bill (Sir Joseph Ward) were introduced by Governor s message and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward introduced by resolution an amendment of the Customs Act, imposing further preferential surtax duties on goods not being the produce or manufacture of British dominions. (The resolutions and . the discussion are reported in another column.) Sir Joseph Ward introduced the Amendment of Trado and Commerce Act to prevent holders of tea prior to tho imposition of the new duty raising the price to consumers. If any such increase had taken placo tho consumer would be entitled to a refund. Tho Bill was treated as a matter of urgency and passed all its stages. MARINE DEPARTMENT. The Hon G. W. Russell tabled the report of the Marino Department, the discussion lasting till 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr Wilkinson resumed the debate on the Financial Statement He 6aid that tho outstanding features of the Budget were the more substantial increase in the national debt and the record surplus, both of which were the result of Avar conditions. He took exception to the proposal to enforce contributions to the war loan as being certain to create hardship. It was a power greater than Parliament should give any Government, and he hoped it would be blocked. He then proceeded to analyse the taxation proposals of the Budget, particularly as they affected small farmers whose farms were mortgaged, his conclusion being that small farms were being heavily taxed and large estates were being let off comparatively lightly, which was in inverse ratio to what it should be. The effect' of this would be to drive people off the land and concentrate them in tho towns. Town conditions were easier than those in the country, and consequently there was no inducement to stay on farms where there was plenty of hard work and small profits. Conscription of wealth in the shape of capital was impossible. What was most needed was encouragement to produce as much as possible, and the principle governing our taxation .should be that we should tax the spending not the earning of money. Mr ilornsby said 'that the first great principle laid down by both leaders when tho National Cabinet took office was reduction of the cost of living, but no reduction had taken place. It was no answer to say that 'things were dearer in Australia, where the Government interfered. Tho fact was that we< had abundance of food in the Dominion, but tho people cculd not get it except by grace of the profiteers, and it was time the: people realised the fact. When the Minister of Agriculture went to Australia to buy wheat there were men in tho Dominion holding on to wheat, with the result tha»t both bread and flour wore dearer than they had any right to be, and he wanted to know what, the Board of Trade was doing about it. Butter was selling at Is 8d a pound, but ho knew that a. large quantity of first-class butter was for sale at a shilling per pound. Ho commented on the action of woollen companies in raising the prico of yarn, out of which comforts for soldiers were mado by devoted women. The companies paid big dividends, but when the operatives asked for an increnso of wages they were denounced aR disloyal to come at such a time and make such a demand. He described the operations of the 'Mr Trust, on which he declared tho Prime Minister said two years ago he had his eye, but what had been done? Nothing. Why had tho powers of tho Commercial Trusts Act not been invoked to cope with this menace to the people's interests. Mr Witty, whose speech is reported in another column, followed Mr Hornsby. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Mander. COST OF LIVING. Mr Massoy moved to set up a special I committee to consider tho cost of living. ! Tlie motion was agreed to. I The House rose at 11 p.m.