THE GRADUATED TAX.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 21 May 1910, Page 3

THE GRADUATED TAX.

DID MR. MASSEY APPROVE INCREASE? THE PREMIER CORRECTED. Willi refcrciico to the recent rejoinder by Sir Joseph Ward to tho Leader of tlic Opposition's criticism of his policy speech, Mr. Masscy, upon being interviewed by tho Auckland representative of The Dominion, said:— "I thought it right to drop political differences until after the funeral of tho late King, and therefore. I have allowed sonio of the erroneous statements made by the Prime Minister in his interview with a representative, of the 'Otago Daily Times' to go uncontradictccl up to tho present. Most of theso statements I will deal with on the platform later on, but there is one to which 1 wish to direct attention now. It is when Sir Joseph persists in saying that I voted for the increase in • tho Graduated Tax by 25 per cent. In Hansard, vol. 141, page 109, will be found part of the report of the committee stage of the Laud and Income Assessment Bill, 11)07. Tho clause in question is as follows: 'Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, each of the said percentages determined as aforesaid shall bo increased by twentyfive per centum thereof in tho case of all land other than business premises as herein defined.' Now, a division was called for, and the noes were: Messrs. Aitkon, Allen, Lethbridgc, Lewis, Mander, Massey, Okey, Reid, Horrios, iind Lang. Sir Joseph knows of this, because I corrected him onco in the House on the same point. "It is," Mr. Massoy continued, "quite correct to say that I voted for ' the third reading, but that is very easily explained. The Bill was a long ono, with twenty-six very'important sections. Of some of the provisions I thoroughly approved, such as the relief intended to be given to owners of; timber and (lax lands, and when a division is called for on the last-stage of a Bill as a whole, ono has to balance tho good against the objectionable provisions and vote accordingly. But how.was the division called? In order to force members into the- lobby, Sir Joseph put up two of his obedient supporters, ■Messrs. Hogg and Parata, to call for a division, with tho object evidently of using it on tho platform, as he has done. Such tactics are looked upon as contemptible by Parliamentarians."