WORK OF SESSION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 8

WORK OF SESSION

TAXATION MEASURES BUDGET DEBATE NEARLY ENDED CALLERS ON PRIME MINISTER (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Sunday With the financial debate almost concluded —and not before time — and one or two Bills of some substance on the order Paper, the work of Parliament should soon be moving along at a brisker pace. No fewer than 55 members have each spoken l'or an hour on the present debate, exclusive of the whole day devoted to discussion of I the opposition's "repudiation” amend- ' ment, and it is difficult to conceive any subject which has not received considerably more attention than might have reasonably been expected. Before the House adjourned for the week-end on Friday afternoon, the acting-Prime Minister, the lion. P. Fraser, said it was hoped to conclude the debate on Tuesday, and to commence discussion on the Finance Bill, which was introduced on Friday, next Wednesday. This course should be possible, even if it is found necessary to sit somewhat later than usual on Tuesday night to get the debate out of the way. Passing of Finance Bill Mr Fraser indicated also that the passing of the Finance Bill was a matter of some urgency, presumably on account of the necessity for early action of the taxing proposals it embodies, and if it is decided to put the Bill through all stages on Wednesday it would not be out of the way to expect a late sitting. Members of the opposition have taken the opportunity afforded by the Budget debate to record their objections generally to the taxation changes proposed by the Government, but consideration of the Finance Bill, particularly in the committee stages, will enable them to get down to particular cases and press for any amendments they may think desirable. The Bill contains meat enough for any amount of argument. The other taxation Bill Introduced on Friday, the Land and Income Tax (Annual; Bill, which levies the taxes under those headings announced in the Budget, may possibly be taken at the same time since there is a relationship between the two. The increases in taxation proposed there are also bound to be thoroughly debated, particularly the rise in the basic income tax rate from Is 8d to 2s in the £ and the doubling of the present basic company tax rate of Is in the £. It will be some time before the House sees the Pharmacy Bill, which was also introduced on Friday morning. Embodying as it does a consolidation of existing pharmacy law and certain undertakings under the Pharmacy Industrial Plan, Uie measure has a considerable technical aspect and is to be considered by both the Industries 1 and Commerce and the Health Committees of the House before Parliament will have an opportunity to see it again. It is satisfactory to record that the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, continues to make rapid progress towards recovery following his recent abdominal operation. During the past week he has been permitted an increasing number of visitors, who have included the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, and members of Cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, and the Rt. Hon. G. \\. Forbes, the former Prime Minister. Mr Savage, who expects to remain in hospital for another week or so yet, will complete his convalescence at his home at Northland, where he recently shifted from the old Prime Ministerial residence in Molesworth Street, the age of which may be judged from the fact that nearly every Prime Minister since Seddon and possibly before that has occupied it. In the new home Mr Savage is in much more attractive surroundings.