MINISTERS' REPLIES

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1948, Page 3

MINISTERS' REPLIES

Press Association )

Taxes, Death Penalty And Maori Land Saies

(Per

^ WELLINGTON, July L The House of Representatives this afternoon discussed the first batch of Ministerial answers to questions asked in the early days of the week) an order paper containing 30 replies, being eir- ' culated. "The answer is in the negative, " said the Prime Minister when rejilying to an inquiry by Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Hauraki) as to whether tho Government would provide travel facilities or in any way assist Mr. A. Drennan, vice-president of the Waterside Workers' Union and chairman of the National Committee of the Communfst Party, to visit tlie Cook Islands. Sale of Maori Land. Mr. Fraser replying to a question b.y Mr. J. R. Marshall (Mt. Vietoria) based on a recent judgment to the effect that land saies legislation does not apply to Maori land, said the question of whether tlie comparativeiy few transactions involved warranted an aiteration of the law, required careful consideration. Mr. Fraser said that when land was sold by a Maori owner to a person other than a Maori, it became subject to the Land Saies Act. Tliis latter Act applied likewise to land owned by Maoris whicli was not Maori land within the terins of the Maori Land Act, 1931. The Maori Land Court discouraged tlie alienation of of Maori lands and it was anticipated that very few such saies would be made in the future. The fact that land soid from Maori ownership became subject to the Land Saies Act, would in itself go a loug way to prevent saies of Maori land at prices abovc a figure at which its sale would be approved by a Land Saies Committee. There was no intention of repealing the Land Saies Act. Income TaxMatters. Mr. Nash, answering' a question oy Mr. T. E. Skinner (Tamaki) said whore players in sports teams receiving payment in lieu of wages, this was laxable as wages, but payment for cxpenses legtimately incurred was not •laxable. Mr. Nash, answering Mr. F. Langstono (Roskill) who had asked for an amendment to the Land and Income Tax Law to niake it an oll'encp for partnersliips, firms, and individuals engaged in business for profit, to destroy books, papers, and documents before tlie expiration of ten years without the pennission of tlie Commissionier of Taxes, said that the question was now under consideration with. a view to the iiitroduction of appropriate legilation during the present session. Mr. Nash answering Mr. W. A. -Sheat (Patea) said no instructions had been given to the Secretary of the Treasury to negotiate with the United Kingdoin Government for the payment of lunip surns or any similar arrangement in lieu of price increases. Mr. Nash re])lying to Mr. W. J. Sullivan (Bay of Plenty), said the amount of income ' tagi uncollected at March, 1948, in the fcwcnty eounties coinprising tlie Hamilton branch of the Income Tax Department, * because the due date had been extended to June 15, amounted to £1,300,000. This aruount would be laken into consideration when the Budget was prepared this year. Death Penalty. Mr. Mason, answering Mr. G. H. Maclcley (Wairarpa) said thc Government d^d not propose to introduce legislation providing for the restoration of eapital and corporal punishment. Bobby Calf Skins. Mr. Nordmeyer, aswering Mr. A. S. Hutherland (Hauraki) said it was not inteuded to abandon. stabilisation of bobby calf skins. The price paid for local market skins represented about 90 per cent. above the prices received by production in 1939. It fully covered the costs of production. Parliamentary Privileges. During a discussion on .the answers to questions, Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) referring to tlie matter of Parlianiontary priviJagc said that the privilcge enjoyed by the House in tlie past had been abuscd. It would l>e wrong to pass legislation to grant the Chainber complete immunity and leave aggrieved persons Avithout a remedy. Mr. C. L. Oarr (Timaru) said jieople outside the House were inclined to misunderstand the immunity enjoyed by menibers of Parliament. Many tliought it crcatod a sort of "coward's castle" but menibers' privilcge was very oi'ten in Ihe interests of tlie people outside and he hoped Ihe Government would see that the privilcge of members was adequutely safeguarded when debates wero lieing broadcast. * Mr. Fraser, referring to Maori land and land saies legislation, said there was tio use building up prejudice against the Maori people and the whole _ question should be looked at in a cairn atmosphere. | Mr. Holyoake: Do you mean there will be legislation? Mr. Fraser: No. I am not promising you-