PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15315, 16 August 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

HOUSE IN WORKING MOOD. RAPID PROGRESS OF BILLS. A SURPRISED MINISTER. By Telegraph.—.-Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The House of Representatives pave an illustration this afternoon of how it could work, for although it discussed petitions at some length, three Government Bills were passed before tea. As a matter of fact, a minute before tea another Bill was to come on, but the Minister, not crediting the possibility of such rapid progress, was in his room, and the Prime Minister formally moved the second reading. The Public Works Amendment Bill was put through in time for the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister in charge of the Department) to dash to the Town Hall and represent the Government at the welcome to the New South Wales Rugby footballers, and the University Amendment Bill was also read a second time.

The House of Representatives continued its policy of speeding up business, and shortly after eleven o'clock had passed eleven bills through all their stages without amendment in Gommittee. Taxes In Arrears.

A surprising statement regarding the large amount of arrears "of land and income tax unpaid was made to the House this morning by the Premier. He said that the land' tax outstanding on March 31 was £309,035, an increase compared with the previous year*-of £58,925, though things had been better and prices improving. Mr T- M. Wilford: Because stock and station agents and banks took their earnings.

Mr Massey, continuing, said that income tax, which was paid mostly by people In the large centres, was £609,918 in arrear, which was a decrease compared with the previous year of £160,740.

The Premier agreed that it was necessary to revise the taxation system from top to bottom, but it was a task which must be first undertaken by a commission of experts', who would report to Government, which, in turn, would submit proposals ,to Parliament. If he were given an opportunity, this would be done. The, provision in taxation legislation imposing penal rates on laud not being improved,'Mr Massey added, was being operated this year, and had caused not a little excitement in many districts, as he believed notices had been served in some hundreds of cases. , Development of Tongarlro. A strong case, for the Government being granted such powers as would hasten the development of the Tongariro district, and construct a railway was made by. the Minister of Public Works in moving the second reading of the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill, which authorised modifications of eonditions under which the Tongariro Company were required to build a railway. As tho result of negotiations with the natives tho Government asked in the Bill that the House should vary the Order-in-Coun-cil confirmed by the legislation of 30 vears ago, which made it mandatory that they should accept nothing but a standard line of railway. The Bill also made provision enabling them to depart from the curves laid down until the timber, of which there were 1,659,000,000 super feet, was worked. If tho. Bill were passed it meant, he said, that the line would be constructed to Governr.ient standard, and would to handed over within two years of the completion of the contract of the Armstrong Whitworth Company. The Maoris who own the area were agreeable, and the Bill would afford means of giving the present generation the railway access they had been waiting years for. ' ■-'