POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1924, Page 1

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

'II IK, 1)1 KKKK ENCE. Speaking in ilu* House, -Mr ]|. T. Armstrung (Christchurch East) said that recently an (Cast Coast paper had reported that .Mr \'eitch hiid heen a-k----ed it .ocro U'tis really any ditferenco between the Heforiu Party and the l.ihcral Party, and his reply had hern in clt.ct that there had not hern tiny great dillerrnce. lie was supposed to have saiil also that the main obstacle to the two parties uniting was Mr •Massey, and that it the Primo .Minister '"fiuld stand aside there was no reason why they could not unite under such a leader as .Mr Coates. .Mr Vcitrli tcave an assurance that he had not said what had heeu nitrihitied to him. IiKBEXTIRE TAX. -Mr I*. Masters (Stratford' was pro. testing in Parliament sitrninst the differential rtite of income tax levied on local hotly delimit tires, and urging its removal, when a l.ahour memher inlerjected, "How would thtit help the farmers;-”

■Mr Masters declared that nothin" had drawn loan money away from investment in the farming industry so much as the differential rate of income tax on local hotly debentures, featuring them to pay only 2s fid in the L\ instead of, stty, 7s Id in the L'. It had encouraged hi" institutions to invert in local hotly loans, instead of lending money on broad acres.

'l'he Prime .Minister later pointed out that the debenture fax was now ■ls (id. and that it had been raised for the very purpose of facilif atili" the investment of money in farming securities. and that Is (id had to he compared. not with 7s Id, hut wiili os llltl.

Mr Masters said that lie had referred to what the position was when the debenture tax was fixed at 2s ; ,t in the e (TSTO.MS TAXES. Mr R. Masters (Stratford) raised loud laughter in the House ol Representatives by citing a niimher of articles, •from walking-sticks and toilet ref|uisites to toys, for the aholirion of the Customs taxes on which the l.ahour Party had voted lasL session, fn regard to toys alone they had thrown away revenue to the tune ol some L 112,000 a year, he declared; and those were the ‘•responsible men” who claimed that they were fitted to run the countrv. (Applause and laughter). A MEM BEK’S VI KW. ‘•\Ve speak about .coin" to the country.” said Air .1. Horn tWakatipu) in the House, "but 1 believe we would collie hack about the same as we are. I believe we have the best Government w,. could have—one with a small inu"’r i ' HARO TO KIRK! "1 believe the lla" of Liberalism will never die,” said Mr -T. Horn, in the House, amidst roars of laughter. against the government. •Tf anyone moves a no-confidence motion in the present administration we are going to vote with him because we are against the administration, though we have no particular dislike to the individuals.”— Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) in tlw House. NO LOVE FOR LIBERALS. One of the Labour Party. Mr E. .T. Howard, told the House that Rohour lmd no more love for the Liberals than for the Reformers, and if Etc Liberals reached the Treasury benches he gue«sed Labour would vote to put them out. this with the idea that members should go to the country. MR VEITCH’S VIEW. ‘•We have a Government on the Treasury benches that was defeated at the last' election,” commenced Mr tt - A. Veitch in the House. Mr Speaker: Tam afraid the lion, member is getting away front the point.

SUPER ANN PATIOX FOP. NURSES. The FTon M. Cohen gave notire in the legislative Council of l»s intention to ask if it is the intention of tlie Government to introduce this session a measure to make provision for tlie superannuation of nurses.