WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20075, 11 October 1920, Page 6

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

MR MASSEY REFUSES £SOO. LABOUR’S ENFORCED VIGIL [From Quit Corussi'ondenx.l WELLINGTON, Saturday. The most striking episode of the week has been the spectacle of a strong man refusing an additional £SOO per year; not, mind you, refusing to give it to someone else, but declining himself to accept a freely offered rise in salary. Tills occurred when the Civil List Hill, .making provision for increased salaries for members, was under discussion. The Bill proposed to increase the Prime Minister’s salary from £ISOO to £2OOO per year, but members; generally seemed inclined to agree with tho member for Wellington North that it should be at least £2500. But the proposal found a firm opponent in tho suggested beneficiary, and he carried his point. Had anyone but the so-evid-ontly-straightfonvard Prime Minister of the day been involved, there might have been ground for a suggestion that tho thing liad been carefully rehearsed beforehand. The main Bill before members this U’eek has been the Land and lucjmie Tax Amendment Bill, which proposes a new system for the finding of revenue tor the State. Despite all previous statements of members and others that there were many things therein which would have to be altered, the Government met with little or no criticism. Members, with .the exception of the leader of tho Opposition, contented themselves very largely with praising the particular points of popular interest—such as the increased exemption for tho family man—and left severely alone anything that might be felt to require a certain amount of preparation before being tackled. That attitude is coming to bo regarded as characteristic of the House as a whole; there are very few who can get down below the purely superficial. Mr Wilford went more thoroughly into tho Bill than his fellow members—in fact, he spoilt his attack by too much detail, —his main line of argument being his usual one that there should be a more severe grade in the graduated taxes. Business from a national point of view ceased for the day at 5.30 p.m. qn Wednesday, and thereafter the proceedings were in the nature .of a family squabble between Dunedin representatives and the southern Otago men. The latter had the Ministry behind them, so that all tho Dunedin division was able to accomplish was a considerable waste of time. The Bill under discussion was the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment, which proposes to set up a South Otago Hospital district. The House was obviously in sympathy with the arguments, adduced by the logical Mr A. S. Malcolm, whose usually dry delivery was improved by the emphasis he gave to the matter so near to his heart. It was after 3 a.m. before tho opponents of the scheme were fully convinced that their case was hopeless. One of ■ the humorous sides of the night’s wrangle was the fact that it rather turned tho tables for on'co .on tho Labour eight. When tho House sits late, it is often as the result of a liopelpss. fight put up by Labour, which, although doomed to failure,' necessitates that a safe majority of members must remain on dock for voting purposes. On Wednesday Labour had comparatively little to say upon the Bill, but had to remain to cast its votes, for the Kaitangata Coal Miners’ Union was interested ip the passage of tho measure. There was something delightfully refreshing in the spectacle of Labour trying to get a little sleep on its benches in the long hours in which tho debate dragged on. The freehold versus leasehold argument has cropped up again, but it altogether lacks the sting associated with it when, a few years ago. it was one of tho main issues as between the two big parties. There are still, however, members who take a stand for leasehold. These were very active this week oyer the Rotorua Town Lands Bill, which proposes t 0 give the residents of the tourist resort the right to acquire tho freehold. Incidentally they were joined im their opposition in this case by some freeholders who resent tho State parting with this particular part of its property. The argument is that any future Values will he brought about by the expenditure of State funds on tho resort, and that, therefore, the State should reap tho full benefit. One point brought forward. was that, if the State gives the freehold, it will have no control over the accommodation houses and that prices may go sky high. In fact, there is a fear that' in _ the future the only folk who will be in a. position to stay there will be Americans. The Bill seems certain of going through, for a division on the introduction of the measure resulted 33 to 25 in favour. On top of this came the Legislative Council Amendment, postponing the bringing into force of the elective Council idea for a further term. Mr Massey announced vigorously that ho was not going back on Ins old beliels, but nevertheless he came in for a. lot of twitting on the point. It seems funny that at this stage of the session there should be a shortage of business, but of tho fact there is apparently little doubt. After formal business on Friday the only order of the day really ready is said to have been the Discharged Soldiers Loan Bill; Fo it was suddenly decided to table tho report of tho investigations of the Board of Trade into the woollen trade. That looked certain of a long debate, but, as so often happens, just when talk would have been welcomed by tho Government it was not forthcoming, and " the thing was settled in a few' moments. The Prime Minister then started the second reading of the Loan Bill, and this time managed to draw a deal of talk. Tho situation was saved, and.the Government was able to adjourn the House after midnight without any fear of it being said that the reason Was lack of business. Meantime Cabinet will have the week-end in which to gel some more Bills far enough forward to be placed before the House.