POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19144, 29 October 1927, Page 14

POLITICAL NOTES

[THE PBBSB SpocW SerrJe*.] WELLINGTON", October 28. The Licensing BUI. It is stated, though not authonta tivelv, that the Licensing Bill will bi diseu'ssed in the House of Reprcsenta lives next week. Supporters of th< two-issues ballot paper claim that 4; members are pledged in favour of it. Arbitration Bill. Those desiring to make represents tions in regard to the Industrial Con dilation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill will have an early oppor tunitv of doing so, for the measure was to-day read a second time pro forma in the House of Representatives, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. In suggesting that this course be adopted, the Minister for Labour (Mr Anderson) said he had hoped that the second reading of the Bill would have been taken before this, as time was getting on, and he knew that many people wished to give evidence. He now thought it would be better if the measure was sent to the Committee as earlv as possible. "You have had a change of heart," said Mr H. E. Holland. Mr Parry: You want to slaughter it! The Meat Board. A declaration made in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr W. L. Martin (Raglan) that the farmers of the North Island wanted to know why the chairman of the Meat Board was prepared to sacrifice their interests to Vestey Brothers, provoked a warm rejoinder from Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere), who is chairman of the body referred to. Mr Jones stated that no man in the Dominion had done more to protect the farmers against such interests than he had. The Meat Board had on many occasions stepped in and stopped what would have resulted in to-day the entire control of the Dominion's meat industry. The records showed that the Board had followed one line of policy throughout —the policy of absolutely i protecting the free way to the London market for the meat of the New Zealand farmer. Everything possible had been done to prevent' the operation of trusts, and it would continue to be done. Taxing Uncollectable Debts. The M to Z Petitions Committee reported to-day on the petition of James Watson, of Port Chalmers, for a refund of income-tax. The petition was referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with the suggestion that the sum of £4B lis 9d tax chargeable on the transfer of uncollectable debts, be returned to the petitioner. The Committee further expressed its opinion that the method adopted by the Commissioner of Taxes for a number of years in assessing income-tax on a percentage based on gross takings be enquired into. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) said the recommendation was touching a very important matter. This was one case. What he wished to know was whether they were to make a general enquiry in regard to everybody else in New Zealand who was similarly affected. He asked if this was the only case that was to be considered on its merits. If that was so, he would petition the House himself next session. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) said it seemed to be a moot point whether the Commissioner of Taxes was rightly interpreting sections 79 and 90 of the Act. The question was arguable, and the whole matter should be cleared up. "A Burst of Virtue." 'ln the House of Representatives Mr Howard raised the question of the re's cent prosecutions in Christchurch • for breaches of the Gaming Act. He said that they constituted a sudden burst of virtue on the part of the police, and he thought the public should have had some form of warning. The Hon. Mr Rolleston said that there was a prosecution of a similar kind at Methven some time ago, and so the people of Christchurch should have been warned that what had been done constituted a breach of the Gaming Act. The police were bound to prosecute when offences came under their notice, j