THE ROTORUA TOWN LEASES BILL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 17, 15 October 1920, Page 8

THE ROTORUA TOWN LEASES BILL

The Prime Minister read an important communication in the House of Representatives yesterday regarding wool. The committee appointed in London -to investigate the situation on behalf of-New Zealand producers suggested tho . advisability of holding .wool in New Zealand in view of the enormous surplus ; etooka held by the British Government. ! . The Botorua Town Leases Bill, proposing that the freehold shall be granted jto Crown tenants on Eotorua, was reported with a favourable recommendation :by a committee in the afternoon, and was opposed agaip. by the leaseholders, i The report cf tho committee was "talked out," and will have to come forward on another occasion. j .'A Bill amending the death duties was introduced in the House in the evening. It increases the estate?, succession, and gift duties, and is estimated by the Prime Minister to add about to the revenue—roughly, the amount required for the extra subsidy, on butter. The Counties Bill, a consolidation cf the counties law, was under discussion In the Housa during the evening. The Leader of the Opposition proposed that the municipal franchise should Reapplied to counties. His motion was rejected after a long debate by 37 votes .t$ 21. ' The Legislative Council passed the Land and Income Tax Bill and the Master end Apprentice Bill yesterday. An amendment made in the latter Bill provides increased penalties for the farmer who fails to give proper treatment and instruction to the boy who has been taken as an apprentice.