HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17063, 16 August 1917, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

WHEAT OR GREEN FEED

Replying to Mr Newman (Rangitikei), who asked if in view of the great accumulation of wheat in Australia, the Government would permit farmers who had not yet been able to put wheat m, owing to the wet weather, to grow green feed for stock, which it would be difficult to export. The Hon. Mac Donald said the Government was naturally anxious to have as much wheat as possible grown in the Dominion, because there was a difficulty in getting wheat shipped from Australia after it was purchased. The Government, however, had no wish to impose hardship on any district, and he had no doubt that everything would come out all right in the end. MUNICIPAL MEAT SHOPS. Replying to Mr Isltt, the Hon. Russell said ther c was no power in law to enable municipalities to open meatshops. Such shops in Auckland were not municipal, but Government shops. The matter was, however, of such importance that the Government would probably bring down a Bill giving extended powers in this and other directions. The Premied stated that tli e Board of Trade were going south to-night to consider the question of establishing at least one rneas shop in Christchurch. KEROSENE. Replying to Mr Field (Otaki), the Premier said he had ■ not heard of any shortage of kerosene in the Dominion. He. would make inquiries into tlie matter. COST OF LIVING COMMITTEE. On the motion of the Premier the names of Messrs Hudson and Glover were added to the Cost of Living Committee. THE INCIDENCE OF TAXATION. Sir Joseph Ward tabled a number of typical cases under last year's taxation and the proposals in the Budget. He stated that the examples showed how great was the irregularity in the taxes levied last year, owing to the. profits tax. It was necessary to remove that irregularity and uncertainty, and this, lie felt sure, the proposals of the Budget did. He deprecated the introduction into the discussion of the House of strong" party views, particularly on the loan question. The one thing necessary was to create strong finance to help win the war. If there was an impression that large land-owners were getting off too lightly, that impression was entirely wrong. Nev.er in.the history of the Dominion had a large landowner ever been asked "to pay anything like what he was being called upon to pay under the Budget proposals. So great was the burden that it could not be carried in normal times. Only war conditions justified its imposition. His policy was to aim at complete safety. If we had a large surplus at the end of the year, then it could only be recorded as a precautionary measure. Last year's surI plus would probably be invested in a reserve to meet war contingencies.