WORK OF THE SESSION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2571, 20 September 1915, Page 8

WORK OF THE SESSION

END IN SIGHT

THE TAXING BILLS

Now that' the General Estimates are out of the way Parliament will set to work on the really important ivork of tho session, tho passing of the taxing Bills, and tho National Registration Bill. The general opinion of members and of the Government is that, tho session will be over in threo weeks. Tonight the weekly budget of Ministerial replies to questions which should have como down on Wednesday last will bo submitted, and if members wish to discuss the replies an opportunity to do so will be afforded. .I'or the remainder of to-day's sitting the Houxo .will deal with local Bills. Tho Primo Minister said yesterday that the taxing Bill or Bills would be Giially dealt with by tho Government in a day or two, and he thought it almost certain that tlio House would have the Government proposals before the end of the week. Ho also thought it possible that tho National Registration Bill would be advanced a stage this week.

Tho Order-in-Council to giro cffcot to proposed increases in postal and tolegrnpliic charges will be gazetted early this w;eek. The postago increase—onohalfpenny surchargo on all letters—has already been announced. The' minimum charge for ordinary telegrams is to-be increased from 6d. to Bd., and thero is to be also si heavy increase ia tho rates for Press telegrams. . It is still uncertain whether the remaining taxation proposals of tho Government will be submitted to Parliament in one Bill ov in two or throe Bills. Sir Joseph Ward has referred on moro than one occasion in' tho House to the Finance Bill, as the title of ataxing measure to come, from which it might be inferred that there is to bo only ono Bill. But tho Prime Minister would not say, when questioned directly on this subject yesterday, whether tho proposals would bo submitted in one Bill or more than one: The now taxes requiring to be .ratified by legislation involve an. amendment of the Customs tariff and amendments to the graduated land tax and tho income tax.