PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14700, 3 September 1915, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) ■ ' , WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. The Legislative Council met at 2-30. Ihe New Zealand Loan Amendment Bill was read a first'time. On the motion for the second reading the Hon. S. George said the Bill would divert a great deal of. money from private enterprise, and would prejudicially affect the savings banks.He saw no economy being practised. The Government should have proposed a graduated reduction of all salaries and .reduced all emoluments. There was plenty of money in the Dominion. The banks had over eleven millions on. fixed deposit and fifteen millions at current account. were twenty millions in the savings banks. He therefore thought the money could be raised easily. He suggested . that there should be a clause in the-Act to enable people to invest in debentures with a view to providing for the payment of death duties. The loan would be raised quite easily and extinguish itself. It was almost certain that another loan would be required 1 next year, with possibly a higher rate of interest. Hon. Carncross said they must give credit to the Government for taking the. best steps in their opinion to find the sums required. . A local loan would be an education and would influence the people _to take a greater interest in the politics of the country. He did not consider honorariums to members too munificent, but thought economy should be shown in carrying out public works. The' National Cabinet should end the expensive system■ ;d<- carrying out ■>, number of works in different times at one time, and should concentrate ins efforts on one particular work. The Hon. Du.tbi© regretted there was no suggestion of economy in the Government proposals. He affirmed tfifir economy wa.s necessary in. order to prevent national embarrassment. The Hon. Samuel advocated retrenchment and economy. The Hon. Sir J. Hall-Jones said this was a time when economy, both public and private, was necessary, yet the, estimates were framed on the same scale as in the past!. The Hon. G; -H. - Mills' favoured the Suspension of all but-necessary works. The Hon. Sir Francis Bell pointed out that members who had referred to the - necessity of economy had failed to note that the Public Works Statement had not yet been brought down. Hel Asserted' that The estimate of expenditure on public services could not be largely curtailed. The annual increases for hoepitals, charitable , aid, asylums, and education could hot nv avoided. Referring to the local loan, lie said surely we could not go ta the Mother Country at the present time. If we could not find the_ money we should close down on any enterprise for which outside help was required. The Bill was' read a second l time. The Public Revenues - Amendment Bill and the Trades -anß Commerce Amendment Bill (No. 2) were also read a second time. The Council went into Committee on • Bills. In the Regulation of Trade and Com-' merce Bill a new clause was _ added on the motion of the Hon. Sir F. Bel! providing for the interchange of duty paid stocks of mineral oils for stock of the same description included' in duty free stock. The Public Revenues Bill was passed without amendment. : The Bills were reported, read a third time and passed. In Committee on the Marriage Amendment Bill, an amendment was add. Ed doing away in the case oftroopers with the necessity of a certificate of three days’ residency in a particular district before marriage. The Bill as amended was read a second time. ' . The Council aujourned at 4-40.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House ’net at 2-30'. Sir Joseph Ward laid on the table a comparative return showing the amounts paid by city men and, country settlers under the graduated land and income tax. He explained that the return had been compiled to show why the Budget did not apply the graduated land -tax in the same degree to town aa to country land*. A-discussion lasting the whole of the afternoon followed, in which the question of town versus country was very ;, prominent. Members generally agreed that whatever taxation the . Government. ashed to must be. raised, but the .widest difference-of opinion: existed as 1 to the most equitable method, pf raising that money, and the discussion was not hostile to the Government but .was intended; to, assist tbe Government In arriving at the.most equitable propo- ■ sals. The House rose at 5-30 p.m. The House resumed.at 7.3 Q. Escott, Hornsby; Poa c, _ and Haa’ris.. Mr Hine moved the adjournment and the House rose at 1Q.;48.