JOTTINGS FROM THE LORRY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LORRY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

MARRIAGE LAW. WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. The Marriage Amendment Bill with and passed by the Council to-day, without debate. The Bill is expected to give rise to considerable discussion in the House. COUNCIL’S STATUS; The Council at the suggestion of Sir F. D .Bell further adjourned for a fortnight, the consideration of the Legislative Council Amendment Bill. It appears that the Government is in no hurry to proceed with the creation of an elective Council. There are some indications that it' will not be grieved if the suspended Act is lost altogether. LICENSING LAW.

The Licensing Amendment Bill which closes the loop-hole that has made possible the transfer of licenses from one part of a district to another, gave rise to a general discussion on the licensing question in the House to-night. The pros and cons of the liquor question, i were argued at some length and mem-? Jjers 'persisted iii threatening ariiendihents despite Mr Massey’s assurance that if any amendments Were added the Government would drop the Bill altogether. Mr Massey sfaid lie expected the next licensing poll would take place at the time of the next general election. If the liquor trade survived tlie next poll, it would be the duty of Parliament to deal with it, as it had iibt been dealt with for the last twenty years. The question would have to be dealt with then iii the interests of the country as a whole, and not of the Prohibition Party or liquor trade. He agreed that the licensing law required important reforms! but he did not think much would be done until another opportunity of saying whether of not they would retain licenses. LAND AND INCOME TAX. It has been stated in- commercial circles in Wellington that Clause 23 of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill liaS tlie effect of repealing the free of income tax provision in relation io war loan debentures now in the hands of investors, the Prime Minister said to-night in answer to a .question on the point, that the Government had not the least intention of going back upon an it had made. The effect of the clause in question had been discussed in Cabinet and he had been assured by the law officers that the clause would not interfere with the war loan debentures issued under the free of income tax arrangement.