PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14699, 2 September 1915, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to -Mr Glover, Dr Ponlare said the gentleman in charge of the Government accommodation at Karatonga was not a German. Ho was a Scandinavian. The Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bid was read a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said that since March last all New Zealand beef, mutton and lamb available for export had been shipped to tlw Imperial Government. That the question of extending the continuance of the House of Representatives to five years will receive the serious consideration of the Government before the term of the present Parliament comes to an end. If nece-sarv. legislation will bo introduced to prevent alien enemies from acquiring land in the Dominion. That the Government do not propose to introduce i Fair Kent Bill this session. That the oilestion of party polities has not entered into the appointments of members of Land Boards by the last Government, and this poliev will also he followed by the National Government. The Government intends to introduce legis"lation on the subject of tbe establishment of a Permanent Board of Trade and Commerce as soon as practicable. That no reduction in • railway freights can be made at the present juncture, and it-is inadvisable to add to the expenditure by increasing the pay of railway servants. That a fee of two .hundred guineas was paid to the .Solicitor. General for drafting the- Cook Islands Bill. That until the report of the Royal Commission on the Boundaries of Education Board districts had been submitted to the Cabinet, it could not be said when it would be presented to mentPETITIONS. Mr Okey presented the report of the Petitions Committee" recommending that ihe petition of A. L. hide, of haniiitoii, be referred to the Government lot Favourable consideration. Air Webb, in opposing the recommendation. said this was a case arising out of tile kite strike. During that event the Government had handed over their functions to the Farmers Union. Certain people had lent articles (horses, ( to.) to the Farmers’ Union, at Hamilton to enable them to carry on the war against the workers. Some articles had nob been returned. After two years they had a committee of the House recommending that the property (saddle, and bridle) of this petitioner bo made good by Die country, the Farmers’ Union having failed to do so. This was a most improper position. He moved that the petition be referred back to the committee. / Mr Poole endorsed the amendment. Mr Conies said the claim was a just one. It was a matter that could safely be foft. in the hands of the National Cabinet. Mr Young detailed the circumatances under which the property had boon lent, and explained that had an account for the property been rendered earlier it would have been paid. The position only showed the folly of the Government handing its functions over to irresponsible committees of managcinpnt.

Mr. Witch said it was veil known that there was a considerable deficiency in connection with the- finances of the recent Strike. If ibis claim were settled in f avonr of tlio petitioner,•'then tin l door tv as opened for every other claimant to come in and demand-pay. meat of Ids account. Personally lie was not going to favour the payments of any of these claims unless he know how the nionov had been expended. The amendment was carried on the voices. Several similar petitions'were also referred to the committee for further consideration. On tie' motion of Mr AVebb, The Petitions Committee reported no recommendation to make on a petition by Mrs Koyd Oarlick for compensation on account of the death of iier husband, the late Director of Physical Instruction. After discussion it was resolved to refer the report back to the committee for further consideration. The Minister for Defence said with reference to the question by the member for AVnirarapa, as to an alleged mutiny amongst Maori troops on a transport, he had received an authoritative statement to the effect that no such incident had taken place. He deprecated statements reflecting on the honour of troops being made without adequate inquiry. . FINANCIAL STATEMENT DEBATE. Mr MeCoombs resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. He complained that only one third of taxation was. put On the land and income tax. He saw no sign of any attempt to reduce the cost of living. . .He adversely criticised the action of the Government oyer the wheat question, which had re.su' ted in increasing .the price of .'flour. He said the cereal statistics quoted in the Budget were not .correct. Iris toad of a shortage of .wheat there was a surplus. He claimed that the embargo on oats should not have been removed until the price in the Dominion had been reduced. He objected to the tax on kerosene, and stud that the increased tax on petrol would hamper industry, while the increase in the railway was simpjy an attempt to avoid taxing people wlio ought to be taxed._ ; The House adjourned tit 5.30.

On tlie House resuming at 7.30, Mr MeCoomlis concluded Ids 'address, summarising the figures on the wheat supply, He asserted thatthere was enough for normal, conditions-. Elmir ■, should not he more than £9 per ton. . > Mr . Witty said; that in -19il ; there was nearly a. million surplus, while this year they had to'be content with £72,000. If railway men and other obligations Were met, there would the nothing left. He claimed that the diit.v.of Ministers was to see tiiat all extravagance was checked. Ho piloted figuros to show that wheat statistics were, mircliah’e. He was .glad to see that the ■exemption under the income tax was not to he lowered. The land tax should he claimed upon town as weii as country dands." Extraordinary profits as the result of the wai; should be fully taxed. He asserted that the beer tax would_ operate in favour of tlie northern brewers, who manufactured light beers, against those in the south, Where heavier beers were in demand. Heath duties should he increased. He objected to the proposed duty on kerosene, petrol and sphits. Why tax only the totei'isatnr? Why not. nieturo. .shows and am- t uspinents generally? He would also tax cigars.' and he fri'-nur"'! n tus nn I'oehelors.- " Mi- Wilkinson said they would line' l to face a deficiency of three-qUartciß of

a million on the current year. He fully expected that some bold system of reftenchment, wintld have been"' 1 proposed. It was a budget of trivialities, (ind did not show tho master-mind. ..He pffimed the curtailment of expenditure, was unnecessary. Ministers'" salaries should 'le reduced. ,He a(luirie,d one million per year could.be saved without much trouble. All salaries over £31)0 in value should ho reduced ten per cent. Members’ salaries should be reduced, and the Governor’s establishment should he curtailed. -He objected to farmers, being asked To pay income tax. The beer tax,should be doubled and the duty on mineral oils dropped. A tax on tea and sugar should he imposed. Winnings of racehorse owners should also bo taxed.

; Mr Anstey deprecated the suggestion for a reduction in tho wages of ■ Civil servants. What was required was the expansion of production. He said the wheat producers had been ,given 3s. 6d. per bushel while bread had been,' sold at tenpence per loaf. Tlio position of the wheat market to-day was one of complete chaos. If there was any surn’us wheat there was no justification for high prices. He favoui-ed an increase of tiie, land and mortgage tax. The fanner was as ready as anyone, to pay hjs share in war taxation. After the supper adjournment, Mr., Anstey advocated an ''increase in the charges for Press telegrams, also a tax ’ on motor tyres, not on cars; He. condemned the tax on kerosene and petrol, and did not agree with proposal to raise- the railway rates! • He thought death duties might he increased. He also favoured an increase in taxation on totalisator dividends. Picture show entertainments should also contribute. The Budget showed no prospect of cdbnomy being initiated. Dr. Thacker eulogised the services of Sir Joseph Ward as Minister of Finance. Ho thought the suggestions for alterations in taxation made during the debate plight he helpful if additional monies! were required. Referring to the Yrentham Commission findings, l;» contended that the report was wrong in submitting that the outbreak of eerchro-apinal meningitis Was not developed at the camp. He urged the necessity of troops being sent away in the best condition for the work in hand. He strongly advised t’ne necessity for the-erection of hundreds of tepid shower hqths at the, camp. - Mr. iKsco.lt moved the adjournment ' of the debate, and the House rose at 11-10 n.m.- ’■'ll