YESTRDAY IN PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1548, 18 September 1912, Page 8

YESTRDAY IN PARLIAMENT

TAXATION PROPOSALS. BILL PUT THROUGH COMMITTEE STAGE. EDUCATION ENDOWMENTS. CRITICISM OF AN .AUCKLAND BILL.

The House of Representatives did not get through much.work yesterday afternoon. When formal business had been disposed of the Prime Minister made known the intentions of the Government in regard to the permanent housing of Parliament. He stated that the plans approved by tho preceding Administrations would be retained with ono reservation. A dome and somo qther external erabsllishments figuring in the plans would be dispensed with in the meantime. The idea was, Mr. Massey explained, "Jthat the .addition of these ornaments shoufd be deferred until the whole of the building scheme had been put in hand. ■ At> present it was only intended to construct a portion of the building—Legislative Chambers, Ministers' offices, etc.

Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. E. M'Kenzie, .and other prominent Oppositionists expressed general approval of the Government's decision, but the determination to eliminate the dome and external ornaments was adversely criticised.

In the discussion that took place both the Prime Minister and the Minister tor Public Works stated that they regretted that the old sito had not been retained for Parliament Buildings, believing that if this had been done Parliament would have been comfortably housed some time ago, and the country saved an expense of something like J:200,000. Nearly two hours'were spent in discussing a motion, proposed by the Trime Minister, that on and after Wednesday, Se[>tember 18 (to-day) Government business take precedence on Wednesdays. Sir Joseph Ward asked that another week's grace should be given to the measures of private members, and the point was taken up and' developed by Mr. 'G. W. Russell and other members. In'reply to a remark by Mr. Massey that a motion similar to his own had been brought down exactly a year previously by the then Prime Minister, Mr.,'Laurcnson said that thieo weeks of this session had been lost (when the Government took office). Tatcr, Mr. Sidey pointed out that the preceding session had commenced at the end of July,'and the present session ' at the end ;of -.Tune. ' '.''.' Mr.. J. H. Escott, a. Government .member, was still discussing the motion when the 5.30 adjournment arrived

When the Honso resumed at 7.30 tho following Bills were read a third time and passed-.—Gold Duty Amendment Bill, Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Amendment Bill,_ Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill.

The Land and Income Assessment Amendment Bill was considered in committee.

The Hon. Jns. Allen accepted an amendment by Mr. E. P. Lee extending the right of appeal from the decision of a magistrate in taxation cases. With this exception the -Bill passed unanu'iuled. An amendment, proposed by Mr. J. Craigie, was withdrawn, after that member had been informed at some length that a private member could move to reduce taxation, but not to increase it.

The Local Authorities Superannuation Amendment Bill was reported without amendment.

A long discussion took place on tho Auckland Education Reserves Bill, which devotes the revenue from a valuable city reserve to the support of university, secondary, and technical education. Mr. H. Poland proposed to divide the revenue into four parts, one part to be devoted to the support of primary education. The amendment was rejected on a division by 3t votes to 20, and the Bill was reported without' amendment. - When tho House resumed, the Prime Minister again brought up his motion giving Government business precedence over that of private members on Wednesdays during the remainder of the .session. Tho was agreed to, with the proviso that private members' business should take precedence to-day up to 5.30 p.m. . The Houso rose at 0.3 a.m.

THE HOUSE.

MEMBERS' TELEGRAMS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. G. \T. .FORBES (Hurunui) save notico to ask whether telegrams not exceeding 36 words to Ministers nn private business should be accepted hy the Department tree of charge.- He argued that the present charge for such telegrams imposed an unnecessary tax on members. DRIVERS OF MOTOR-CARS. •Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) gave notice to ask whether the Government would this session introduce legislation making it compulsory upon drivers of motor-cars to pass an examination. ' LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr. G. J. ANDERSON (Matama) moved that one week s leave of absence bo granted to Dr A. K. Newman (Wellington hasc), and the motion was carried. PORTRAITS, Mr. SPEAKER "read a letter from Sir William Jukes Steward offerine a portrait of himself-as having been a Speaker of the House. Mr. Speaker said he had received the portrait, and he intended to have it placed in the Parliamentary Libra rv. The non. W. P. M ASSET (Prime Minister) moved that Sir William Steward be thanked, and that the gift be accepted. The motion was carried. Mr. SPEAKER read a similar letter from the Hon. the Prime Minister covering a portrait of Sir Thomas Gore Brown, one, of the former. Governors of New Zealand. Arrangements were being made to have the portrait hung in the Library .Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) moved that the Prime Minister be thanked for his oit'er, and that the portrait be placed in the Library. The motion was carried. PYRIDINE. Mr. G. LAURENSOX (Lytlelton) asked the Prime Minister, without notice, whether the Government had taken steps to deal with the evil effects of pyndino in methylated spirit, as they hail been presented by the Furniture Workers' Union. Ho read a letter from the Auckland Union to the effect that in .Auckland 30 or +0 journeymen and apprentices were affected injuriously bv pyridine. The Hon. W. p. MASSEY (Prime MinisteH said that the wholo matter was in the hands of the .Minister for. Customs, who was absent from Wellington. Put it was the intention of the Government to amend the regulations to make it optional whether pyridine should he made an ingredient, of methylated spirit or not. The Minister for ("upturns would be in his place on Wednesday, and he would no doubt mate a full alnteiueut on. the ..subject*

Later in tho afternoon tho Prime Minister stated that he had been in communication on the subject with the Minister, for Customs, and had received a telegram from Mr. Fisher, in which that Minister stated that ho concurred in the view that an important amendment would be necessary in the present Order-in-Council governing the use of pyridine. Extensive inquiries wero being made and steps would be taken to remove the friction which had arisen. FIRST READINGS. The EHesmerD Land Drainage Amendment Bill was introduced Governor's Message and read a first time. The Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill was also introduced by Governor's Message. Mr. T. M. WILFOED (Hutt) asked what the effect of the Bill would be. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Minister for Justice) said that the Bill practically a copy of tho English "Poor Prisoners' Defence Act," which had been favourably commented upon by mcnibere when the Justice Department Estimates were under consideration.' If tho House was in favour of the Bill it would be passed into law this session. ■ \ The Bill was read a first time. N PRIVATE MEMBERS' DAYS. TO DISCONTINUE THEM.

The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) moved that on and after Wednesday next Government business tako precedence of private members' business. He stated in support of his inotion that it was exactly one year ago by the caleniSur since a similar motion had been agreed to by the House. .

Sir Joseph WARD (Awarua) asked that the words ''on and" he omitted from the motion, in order that certain measures, already considerably advanced in their passago through the House, might - fce passed finally'. He also asked when the Public Works Estimates would be sul> mitted.

The Hon. W. Fraser (Minister for»Public Works): So that you can go away. . . Sir Joseph Ward: I didn't say that. Mr. T. M. Wilford: When is the Land Bill coming down? Mr. Massey:" At the end of this week.

Mr. G, LAURENSON (Lyttclton) said that although this was the anniversary of a'similar inotion last year, three weeks of the present session had been lost. There had been no factious opposition from that sido of the House. Three private Bills had passed through committee, and it would be rough on the members who had introduced them if ho opportunity were given for their consideration and report. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) pressed the claims of the Marriages Validation Bill, and urged that another opportunity of considering it should be given. Ho moved as an amendment that private Bills which had passed ihrough committee should be proceeded with. Mr. T. K.'SIDEY (Dunedin South) said that he had not expected private members' days to last any longer, and did not think the member for Wairau had expected it either. Three weeks of this session had been lost, but the previous session had not begun until tho end of July.

The Hon. W. H. HERRIKS (Minister for Railways) thought it would bo invidious to single out this particular Bill for favourable consideration. This Bill had passed the second reading only by tho casting vote of the Speaker, and it had passed its committee stage by only one vote. Surely, if preference was to bo exercised, it should be exercised in favour of Bills which the House had approved by a reasonably large majority.

"Messrs. ISITT and FORBES supported the amendment.

Mr. J. COLVIN (Buller) asked what was the position of the Gaming Bill, tho most interesting Bill of tho order paper, now appearing as No. 21 on tho sheet.

Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) stated that the Prime Minister had nllowed private members to introduce Bills dealing with the two most important questions before the House—Licensing aud Gaming. And now these Bills were not going to bo allowed to ro. to tho final decision. He urged that the House should not be led by faddists. "What this country wants," hp said, "is a Ministry that will tell somebody to go to tho devil." And ho added, "If our party get in, we'll do it." What the country wanted was a Ministry that would bo able to say "No" to somebody.

Messrs. OKEY and HINE hoped f.he Government would begin by saying "No" to the amendment.

Mr. J. G. COATES (Kaipara) said that ho wislied the Prime Minister to say iu replying whether he would give soino further facility to private members in submitting their Bills. He referred in especial to the Bill dealing with racing, which dealt'with a question which was of livo interest in the country.

Mr. A. S. MALCOLM (Clutlu) ftfd ha would vote niminst the amendment. He had been absolutely satisfied with the run his own Licensing Bill had been givon. Mr. W. H. D. BKLL (Wellington Suburbs) paid ho was satisfied tliot. his own Licensing Amendment Kill had no chance of. passing, and that the Gaming Bill could not p:i=.s. It was-uiisurrl ard unfair to attempt, to blame the Prime Minister or tho Governiionl for l.'!'''ng these Bills. His own opinion was that if there were to be private members' days until the end of ■the session, ibe=e Bills could not go through. The Hon. W. T. 51ASSET (Prime Minister) said that if be accepted the amendment of the memlxT for Avon, it would mean only that the next day would be wasted on futile discussion, for members in the. course of the debate hud said that the Marriage Validation Kill wculd not l>o allowed to go through. With regard to the Gaming Hill, it was equally clear that the Rill had not a chanco of passing the House this session. The-Government , were not shirking this division, as had been suggested. . For his part he had never in his period in Parliament avoided voting'on a division, and ho did not propose to vary his rule. He could say definitely tliat the present Government had no intention of introducing either licensing 'or gaming legislation ibis year, but at the same time they did not wish to interfere with private members who hronght in such Bills. In reply to tho member for Awarua. he said tliut it was hoped that the Public Works Estimates would be introduced in about a fortnight. At the dinner adjournment Mr. ,T. H. Eseolt (Pahiatua) was speaking, and the motion could not, according to the rules of procedure, come up for decision when the House resumed at 7.30. BILLS PASSED. The Gold Dutv Amendment Bill (the Hon. !•'. M. B. Fisher), the Waihou and Ohinemuri -Hirers- Improvement Amendment Dill (the Hon. W. Fraser), nnd the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill (the Hon. AV. F. Mnssey) were all read a third time, and passed. A TAXINC BILL. LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT. DEFINITION OP MAORI. Tho Land and Income Assessment Amendment Bill was committed. The Hon. A. T. NGAT.V (liaMern Maori) moved to add to Clause 2 o. provision repealing the definition of Maori, and sub>titut.iiie the following:--"''.Maori' mean- n iiersin belonging to the aborisiaaj, r«eo{ Jyew. ZesJsmd, and is.- ,

chides a half-caste and a person intermediate in blood between half-castes nnd persons of puro descent from that race." Ho explained that the present law did not mako provision for tlioso descendants of half-castes who woro intermediate between Hie hnlf-csisto and pure Maori." Tho Hon. J. ALLEN said ho understood that (ho low excluded from taxation all half-ccsli's and all descendants of halfcastes, who were inoro nearly related lo the Native race than to tho white, lie could nut givo an answer at once, bill, he promised to have the matter inquired into, and if any anomaly existed he would remove it. '■

-Mr. XGATA then agreed to withdraw his amendment, since lie had tho undertaking that (lie tax proposed would apply to half-castes only. "Unimproved Value." When one of the new clauses was under consideration, / -Mr. 11. E. ELL (Christchurch South) suggested to the .Minister the advisability of dropping tho term "unimproved value' , from the Bill, on tho ground that the term led to a lot of misunderstanding. He thought "capital value" might be used to uiean the raluo of land and improvements, and "land value" might fce used to mean tho value of the land without improvements. Tho Hon. J. ALLEN said ho could scarcely adopt tho suggestion, as tho Bill under review had nothing to do with land valuation. The Right of Appeal. On Clause 21 providing that a magistrate, at his discretion, might allow the Commissioner of Taxes or on objector, to appeal on questions ■ of fact where the amount of the tax in dispute exceeded JI2OO, • . Jlr. E. P. LEE (Oamaru) proposed an amendment making tho right to appeal absolute, and not dependent on the will of the magistrate. Tho Hon. JAMES ALLEN declined, at first, to accept the amendment. The Public Accounts Committee, he said, had widened the scope of tho Bill in this direction, and he thought'the clause should be accepted in its present form. Mr. W. H. D. BELL-(Wellington Suburbs) said that the Minister would not be going too far if he made appeal as. easy as in ordinary civil cases. The amendment proposed by Mr. Leo did not go by any means so far as this. Mr. LEE said that in an extraordinarilyv.large number of cases magistrates refused the right to appeal, prefacing their refusal with the statement: "I find in fact." •■ . ■ ' The MINISTER said that he would accept tho now, but that if necessary he would take- steps to restore tho clause to its present form when it came before the Upper House. The Hon. I). BUDDO (Kaiapoi) asked why the right to appeal should be taken away where the sunuin dispute was ,£SO "tIiT'mINISTER said that the law draftsman considered the present scope of appeal on fact ample, and he (the Minister), took the same view. Mr. Lee's amendment was agreed to on the voices. Mr. J. CRAIGJE (Timaru) introduced an amendment aiming- at increasing the graduated land tax, but eventually withdrew; it on being informed that a pri.vato member could only movo. to reduce taxation, and could not move to increase it. The Position of Landowners. Mr. H. M. CAMPBELL (Hawke's Bay) urged that tho big landowners who had made this country what it was should be allowed , to get out of their holdings on tho best possible terms. Ho recognised that tlioy must go, and that tho country must be settled, but they ought to 1:a allowed' to realise without paying the first year's taxation. This , was not permitted under the Bill. The Hon.- J. ALLEN said he would have liked very much to be able- to comply with the request of tho honourable gentleman, but the policy,of tie Government was to impose "this tax at once. The Government had very carefully considered tho question of po,stpoiiiug the imposition of the 25 per cent, increase, and had decided against it. The Bill was reported with amendments. ... SUPERANNUATION, AN AMENDING BILL. The Local Authorities Superannuation Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman) was committed. The Hon. A. L. JIERDMAN explained that local authorities had found it impossible under the original Act to initiate their schemes. They wished to make special provision for their older employees, and the Bill did not give them power to do so. He said that if the Bill were passed it would certainly make, it possible for local authorities more easily to establish superannuation schemes. Mr. T. 11. DAVEY (Christchurch Bast) would havo preferrerd that the Govorninont should havo postponed this Bill, (ind brought down a moro comprehensive measure next year. No provision was made under tho present Bill for men transferring from tho service of one local authority to that of another, and no provision was made for tho case of tho employoo who would not keep up his contributions. Mr. HERDMAN said tho object, of the Bill was lo enable local bodies to make Bpecial agreements with their older servants, who would not enter on an ordinary contributory basis. The younger men woro all ready and willing "to contribute under Hie. scheme. He could not accept any amendments of tho Bill such as might be suggested by what th« member lor Christchurch East had said. Tho Bill was reported without amendment.

EDUCATION IN AUCKLAND. AN ENDOWMENT. The next measure committed was the Auckland Education Reserves Bill, to divide the proceeds of an endowment in Auckland City in third shaves among Auckland University, secondary schools, and technical schools in Auckland. Mr. 11. POLAND (Ohinemuri) repeated a protest, made when the Bill was bein" read a second time, on the ground that in distributing the revenues from a valuable ■ endowment it made no provision for primary education., Ho moved an amendment to the effect that instead of the income being' distributed in third shares, it should bo distributed in fourth shares, and that one-fourth should be applied to primary education. < ..The Hon. JAMES ALLEN said that Jf the Bill were amended as suggested, to provide that on«-fonrth of the revenue from this endowment should bo devoted' to th/s support of primary education, tie benefit of the .endowment would be to that extent lost to Auckland. If such an amendment were carried it would mean that the annual vote on the Estimates for primary education would be reduced by the amount of the. revenue derived from the endowment.

Mr. A. M. MYERS (Auckland Fast) supported and amplified the contentions of tho .Minister.

Mr. T. W. IXODES (Thames) said ho would not. support the amendment of tho member for Ohinemuri, but he asked that the decision of the Court, of Appeal should ba followed in allocating tho moneys receivable from the endowment. He .protested, therefore, against the moneys gom? to the Auckland College and the Auckland Grammar School instead of to secondary institutions throughout tho province.

The amendment was supported by Messrs. A. E. Glover (Auckland Central), and J. Payno. (Grey-Lynn),, and ■Mγ. A. Harris CWaitcmnta) supported the Bill as submitted. ■ ' The amendment was lost bv 31 votes to 20. The Bill was reported without amendments. PRIVATE BUSINESS. When tho House resumed, . Tho Hon. W. V. JIASSEY (Prime Minister) said lie did not propose to toko any more Bills, but he Suggested that the motion debated that afternoon should be agreed to. Mr. G. WITTY (Kiccarton) asked that at least Mr. M'C.illum's Bill be taken. Tho Opposition .would be content to oiler only one speech, and he suggested that the Government should likewise be cdiitent with one motion. The Hon. A\\ F. MASPEY said he would lie willing to allow private members' Bills (o be taken, up till .UO p.m. ■ The motion was Dually carried in tho amended form, Ihat on'and after "Wednesday (tn-doy). at 7..10, Government business should take precedent;! l of private member-,' business. Jk« House, rose at 0.3 s,m*