PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1922, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

AMUSEMENT TAX EXEMPTIONS. The exemption of agricultural shows from amusement tax lias led various sports associations to press for a similar concession, and Mr Mackenzie asked Mr Massey if boxing, cricket, football and other athletic games could he exempted. The Prime .Minister replied that any such change could only he made by legislation. What he had in his 'mind when stating that agricultural shows would he exempted was that anything that had ttn educative purpose should he exempt. The matter mentioned by Ale Mackenzie came under a quite different heading, hut it would he taken into consideration before legislation

came down. HOSPITAL BOARDS’ LOSS. A question from Mr J. R. Hamilton to the Minister of Health resulted in confirmation of the report that the license fees of land agents, formerly paid to hospital hoards, will now go to the Consolidated revenue. The Minister said that when the matter was decided hv Cabinet he could not resist the argument that these fees were national and should he paid, as were other national fees, into the general fund of the Dominion. COMPULSORY VOTING. There was an indication in'the House that the time is coming when every person on the electoral roll will have to avail himself or herself of the right of the franchise. Mr Potter brought the matter up by asking Mr Massey if lie would introduce 'legislation to make voting compulsory, mid also to make compulsory notifleation of change ot address. Ihe latter would mean cleansing of the rolls, a thing that had not been done fpr a long time. The Prime Minister replied that the matter ot compulsory registration uas under consideration of the Electoral Department, and he expected to have a report shortly. Personally he had a good deal of sympathy with the suggestion. He thought we should cleanse the rolls to commence with and everyone entitled to vote should have his or her name on flic roll, and having got it there should record a vote. The Department. somewhat doubted whether it was possible to have legislation making the changes in time to take effect at the coining election. CHEAP NATURALISATION. A complaint from the Danish Consul against New Zealand's £IP charge* for naturalisation was mentioned in the House by Dr Thacker, with the object of securing a reduction of what he called “this drastic amount.” The Minister of Internal Affairs do- j scribed the fee as very small, i-ompar- ; ed with what other countries considered wa s a fair charge for the privilege of naturalisation. On this being noted the Department had decided to make an increase, hut if this entailed hardship he would look into the law to ascertain it" a reduction was possi Lie in such cases. DEFECT IN PASSPORT SYSTEM. Elizabeth Maddon, of Christchurch has petitioned thromjh Mr 1.-itt praying Ur a (.onipaPsionnto allowance. Her husband had been ordered by the Magistrate’s Court to pay 3(>s weekly towards her maintenance, hut had left New Zealand and was resident ait Punta Arenas, (‘bile. Petitioner had reason to believe that a passport lmd been issued to her husband enabling him to leave the Dominion without proper official inquiries having been made. Shi* lui H seven children under the age of sixteen depending on her ■ for maintenance. COAL ROYALTIES. Voicing a Westport complaint regarding the shilling per ton royalty charged by the State on coal mined on its reserves, Mr Holland urged the Minister of Mines to reduce the amount, so as to encourage further development,. The Hon C. .1. Anderson declined to consider the request stating, that In* was satisfied the amount was not too large. He knew of a case of a leasee, who would have been charged one shilling, selling the lease to a company with a provision that he should receive two shillings royalty, as well as goodwill. This kind of thing occurred often on the West Coast, and he maintained that the State should have some of this royalty. He was Irving to make the Mines Department pay its way. and was succeeding very well so far. LEASING THE HERMITAGE. Concern wa s shown by Mr Burnett ill a question to tlie Minister in charge of Tourist Resorts over the - possibility of valuable bush and scenic assets in alpine country being deprived of tlie protection now given them by the Tourist Department, if it succeeds in leasing Mount Cook Hermitage to a private individual, as is proposed. He asked the Minister what precaution would he taken to see that the lesses provided adequate protection. | The Hon W. Nosworthy replied that ■ every precaution would he taken il the Department succeeded in leasing the Hermitage and scenic reserves ad--1 joining. j '“JUGGLING WITH INCREMENTS” I The member for Wellington Central I suggested in the House that the Raili way Depnrtmnt 'is interfering with I statutory increments in order to recj tifv art anomaly created hv last scs- ( J sion’ s Retrenchment /Act. Increases, I In* said, wen* paid on a flat rate of ( ti i shilling a day, hut the deduction in some eases amounted to Is 4tl. and the Department was juggling. with scale increments shown in the Glassification Act. “TJio Department i s not inpKlini; with the position,” replied the ITon T). H. Guthrie, who assured the House that the men were being dealt with justly. Tf a specific complaint was I made he would have it investigated.