JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1920, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

THIS DEBENTURE TAX,

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON September 21

McCombs (Lyttelton) suggested that as the proposed tax on municipal debentures was likely to hamper local bodies in the raising of moneys they required, the Prime Minister ought to make some announcement with a view to easing the position.

Mr Massey said he thought that when the local bodies saw the bill they would have no cause for complaint, or at any rate very little cause for complaint. The debenture tax at present was $ flat rate of 2/6 and lie did not think that by an increase of the tax to 3/- the financial position of local bodies would be affected. It might not be a disadvantage to local bodies if their borrowing operations were checked for a little time. They were asking at the present time for many millions, and he was quite certain that if they got the money they could not spepd it to advantage just now.

BIG UNION idea. WELLINGTON, September 21

The present discussion of the Big 'Union idea occupied the House for some time. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, introduced by a 'Labour member, proposed that workers should be allowed to organise on a national basis within the arbitration law. The- Committee had struck out this provision, thus maintaining organisation on the basis of industrial districts. Labour members argued to-day that j sectional organisation was the cause of friction and disturbance, and stated that the workers would organise in their I own way outside the Act, if not inside lit. They did not think Government | could prevent them and hoped it would not try. Members on the other side, including Mr Young (Waikato), said that the movement for the formation of national unions was merely an attempt on the pa»rt of labour leaders to force the rank and file of workers to follow them in an attack on constitutionalism and

democracy The feeling of the House appeared to be against the Bill, but eventually the measure was jeferred back to the Committee, on the voices, for further consideration. It may not appear again. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL.

The Municipal Corporations Bill, which is a very bulky consolidating bill was considered in committee during the evening. Many members made criticisms and suggestions, but they did not, succeed in effecting much change in the rating powers from three halfpence to two pence in the pound on the capital value, which was maintained by 46 votes to 9. At present the Bill now provides that a member of a municipal corporation cannot hold his seat if lie is financially interested in a contract made by the Council if payment exceeds £5 in the ease of a single contract, or £lO altogether in any financial year. Sykes (Masterton) moved that in the cases of boroughs bjiving a population of 2,000, or less, the- limit should be extended from £lO to £SO. He said that the restriction was unnecessary and involved inconvenience in small towns, where a number of businesses was limited.

The Prime Minister said the amendment would be dangerous. This view was taken by several other members, who thought that the amendment would open the door to jobbing and corruption. The strict law now in operation has made for clean local polities. After a .brief discussion the amendment was lost on the voices.

Young (Waikato) moved that the £lO restriction should not apply to newspaper advertisements. He pointed out that members of a Borough Council might be a director of a local newspaper which had to handle statutory advertising of a local body. McNlcoll (Pahiatua) said that country newspapers had to insert statutory advertisements and they also did job printing. He thought that the amendment should apply to advertisements only and that printing should be subject to the same restrictions as other trading. The amendment was lbst on the voices. The Bill was put through without material amendment.