PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14698, 1 September 1915, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 31. The House met at 2-30. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, the Minister said it would not be proper to allow the new duties to be coLected on stocks held prior to the recent increase ’in. tariff; that a complaint had been made that whey butter was being exported as factory butter. This matter was be. ing inquired into. That free passes on the railways would be allowed to parents who wished to meet their sick and wounded sons who would arrive by the Tahiti; that if it was desired, a day would be set apart for the discussion of the Royal Commission’s report on the Trentham camp; that a precis of the War Pensions Act would be printed in Maori for circulation: that in cases where parents could not undertake the expense of taking letters of administration through the Courts, the Public Trustee would do so at a very slight expense. MISCELLANEOUS:. Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to the Hon. Heaton Rhodes on account of public business. The Destitute Persons Amendment Bill (Mr. Harris), and the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill (Mr. Myers) were introduced and read a first time. The second reading of the Hutt Road Bill (No. 2) was moved by the Hon. Mr. Herriee, who explained that the Bill provided for the apportionment of the monies to be paid by local bodies towards the construction of works, also for the appointment of a board of eon. troi. After considerable discussion the motion was carried. TAXATION PROPOSALS. The Regulation of Trade and Commerce Amendment Bill was introduced py Sir .Joseph Ward, who dealt with the matter of its urgency. He explained on the motion for the second reading of the Bill, that it was intended to provide that increased duties should not. be claimed upon mineral oils and motor spirits held in the Dominion prior to 26th August last. Messrs. Wilkinson, Dr. Newman, Thacker. Witty, Isitt, Anstey, Buick, Webb, Glover, and Escott spoke in oppos;t:on to the tax. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, pointed ou* that tne Bill was to save people

paying 4d per gallon extra on mineral oils held at the time the tax was ena -tel. Tlie principle of the tax could bo di-cussed later. The moti m was carried, and the Bill was reported from Committee without amendment, rend a third time, and passed. Mr. Parr said that two leading principles hr.d been followed in passing the Budget. One was to put the burden of taxation upon those best able to bear it; the other was to save as much .as possible the small farmer and tn» worker. He suggested that the tax of 50 per cent, on enemy goods should be increased. The four main revenue producing features of the Budget were land and income tax. Customs, railways and Post and Telegraphs, which comprised about NS per cent, of the new taxation. He favoured the increase of the graduated land tax, which did not hit the small settler or small landowner. He generally approved of the increases proposed, but objected to the tax of 4d. per gallon on motor spirit, whicn should be reduced to 2d. per gallon. He also advocated the taxation of picture shows —in fact, all places of amusement. He congratulated the Minister of Finance on hie cour. ageous attempt to deal with a difficult problem, and said he thought the country could stand even a larger amount, of extra taxation than was proposed if required. On the motion of Mr. Witty, the debate then adjourned. The House rose at 9-15 p.ra.