PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1921, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

SI’KCIAI. TO la-WKIUAN. COOK ISLAND BILL. YYKJ.I INGTON, Nov. 7. 'Pile Utilise put the Cook Islands Rill through Committee without debate.

THE T..RIEF BIJ L. WELLINGTON. No

The Minister foi Customs told t:.o House that the Tai iff’ Bill would contain a piovisioti for excluding Ir* **. preferential treatment, ally British In,minion which erected barriers against New Zealand. Ample piivci would lie provided for protecting our interests. The Rill would Ire found to (Olitaiii very full powets for dealing with dumping. HAND TAX RELATE.

Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Land Tax Amendment Bill which proposes a rebat** ot ten per cent to* prompt payment ot land lax. iL said again that he realised many tarn.crs wcic. having a bail time ml t it t l w \ ivtjiiired rolit't l rum s'ouit* tuxiNl-ioii. This was ail instalment of a reduction. He expected to k* able to make a reduction in income tux this session, but that dependent on the way the House tieated Ids proposals lor retrenchment. During the delude that followed, members generally welcomed the concession. hut asked for assistance lor farmers who could not make prompt pay meilt.

RETRENCHMENT. Mr Statlmm (Dunedin Conn all said that reductions in taxation "('re iff sionory. unless th** expend !..*(* were (*- du,-('(I. He found m, indication of teal reduetioos ill official tiguics.

Mr Massey- Important reductions arc taking placi*, day l»y day. aim they will ,cach the House presently, i ho .** members will then support them. This reference to the im; ending reduction in Ministers and Members s laries made some members smile and 4)1 hers look anxious. TAXATIOX COXCESSI OX• Tlu» ijaud Tax Amemliuoiit Hill v»as discussed during the owning. Lahm-r members argued that it was really a concession to the big men. since the small farmers would not la* able to pay by the due date and in any ease did not have to pay enough land tax to make the rebate important. TAXING LUXURIES,

Mr Massey, in reply, made -ini** general remarks about taxation he said that he wished to reduce taxation wherever possible. It might he neci ssarv for him to ask the House within the next few weeks to inert* in* taxation in c**rtaiii directions, but th'' increase would be in w bat -night be called voluntary taxation. Taxes oil luxuries need not be paid by anyone who did not wish to pity them. That was the principle upon which tlu* Government was proceeding. He was not referring merely to the tariff, but was indicating the direction of further propr.sals that would be made luring the session.

GET'RACK TO NORMAL. ■*\\*e have got to get back to the position we occupied before Hie war.” said Mr Massey. “AY** have got to get bach to position where we will have no difficulty in making ends meet. In keeping our expenditure within our revenue, that is not the position at present. L hope that long before March 31st. next it will he the case. He might not he able to propose a reduction of income tax bv ten per cent, since that would involve a very large sum, but lie believed that he would be nble to propose a reduction. The bill was put through off stage* and passed,