PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1921, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

’ SI’KCIAI, TO lil'AltiflAS'. LAND tax REBATE. Mr Massey introduced a propisal for a ton per cent ichate for prompt pay incut of the Land Tax, in '.he Hons* this afternoon. He said payers of land tax were having a very difficult time at present. Very few of them h'd made any profits during the last twelve months, and some of them hid made losses. The land tax had to be pa..! nil the same. The Bill was int-ulul to assist and encourage them, .mud tax (uni In le- paid between Nov mer 7th mil Not ehinlier 28. and those who paid within Hus period would uceivo the rebate. Those who did not pay would lose the rebate and would collie under the ordinary penalty elauses. He was offering payers of land tax a discount for ( nish. Mr Massey added that the land tax produced £1,700.000 last year, so that the loss to Government if all taxpayers secured the rebate, would be about £170.000. He thought Government would gain more than it would lose, by this concession, which would lighten the burdens of the farriers during a difficult period. Several members pointed out that the Bill would give no help to farmers who were unable to make prompt payment of. their land tax.

Mr Atassey replied that the Bill would make it easier for taxpayers to arrange finance if necessary, since the hanks and financial institutions would see that there was a saving to be effected by prompt payments. He added that he might he able to do something later for the payers of income tax lmt there was no hurry about that. He had to guard the revenue •arefullv.

The debate that followed showed that the Hill was welcomed generally by the farming members of the House. Several speakers suggested that some assistance hould he given to farmers who were unable to pay their tax by suspension of the penalty clauses. The Bill was read a first time. MENTAL HOSPITALS.

AY hen the report of the Mental Hospitals Department was tabled Air Lystiar (Gisborne) asserted that many people were improperly held in asylums. Patients had very little chance of getting out. unless they had influence, because tile Medical Superintendent did not care to take any risks. He himself, had secured the release of several people who otherwise . would have remained in a mental hospital indefinitely. He asked for the appointment of a committee of responsible citizens to interview patients, and order their release if desirable. Him C .1. Purr denied that there was any ground for these statements. The Medical Superintendent’s were experts who had no desire to hold any person unnecessarily. Discharges from mental hospitals last year totalled about ten p*T cent of the patients in the institutions. He denied that there was n serious overcrowding.

RIFLE- MEETING CANCELLED. The abandonment of the Dominion Ride Association meeting for next year was announced by the Minister for Defence. The big meeting has been cancelled on the score of economy hut district meetings will he held. YESTERDAY’S WORK.

The House sent the Law of Libel Amendment Rill and the Education Bill to Committee. In the evening tlw Hunter Gift for Discharged Soldiers Bill was put througli all stages and passed, after warm tributes had been paid to the generosity of Sir George Hunter. The Patents and Designs Amendment Hill was also passed. THE TOTE QUESTION.

The totalisntor questions is expected to come before the House of Representatives to-morrow. Tho Prime Minister. it is antieinated. will move the second reading of the Gaming Amendment Hill, which he introduced recently. This Bill provides that the total number of totalisntor permits shall be increased as recommended by tho Racing Commission.

The motion will provide an opportunity for a general discussion which ought to indicate the feeling of the House with regard to the report of the Racing Commission. Tt is understood that the Prime Afin-