POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1929, Page 3

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

HOTEL LICENSES. An increase in hotel license fees is suggested by Mr C. A. Wilkinson, Independent member for Bgmoiit, as one method of raising the additional revenue required for the Government. Advancing this proposal in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives, Mr Wilkinson said that only £41,000 was* collected in license few from hotels last year, and in his opiu -ion £400,000 could quite wp.ll be collected 'from that source Without doing harm to anyone. Hotelkeepers had a valuable monopoly and they should be called on to pay when money was wanted, I 'instead of calls (being made on the farmer and the working man. In reality New Zealand was getting iess tu-dav than ever 'before from the license fees. Perhaps in return for a higher charge, some security could ue given hotelkeepers against triennial licensing referenda. Mr Wilkinson suggested that the local bodies should coli(ret the same amount in license fees as at present, and that the additional charge should go to the Government. The biggest public . house in New Zealand paid only £4O a year, tbo same amount as an auctioneer, and ilie latter had no monolopy. “ Mr Wilkinson* said he know one man in las district who had to pay £BO a year to ruii a "motor-truck. ! Y :MrK. J. Howaid (Labour member for Christchurch South): We' should be after those publicans. Mr Wilkinson: It might bd suggested that the Government might be afraid to interfere with the hotelkeepers, but I don’t think the Prime Minister would be afraid of anyone when it comes to collecting taxes. (Laughter.)

“WIGS ON THE GREEN.” “Oh, it’s wigs on the green” called a Labour member at the end of a tenminutes’ interlude which diverted the House from serious consideration of the Budget. The principal actors in the piece were Mr Coates, Leader of the Opposition, and the Hon. Mr Atmore, Minister for Education. The latter had just completed his speech, and Mr Coates rose to a point of order, claiming that the Minister had misrepresented him on a number of subjects. Mr Coates enumerated tbe various points of alleged misrepresentation, but Mr Atmore intervened once to deny that be had made one assertion attributed to him, and later to question whether Mr Coates was in order in one reference.

Mr Speaker told Mr Coates he ought first to ■ state the ground the alleged misrepresentation. No member was at liberty to range over his political history in raising a point of order., J “Well, I'will* postpone the matter until we get to the' Estimates, ’> said' Mr Coates,“ sitting down. ’ 7 Mr Atmorp rose again, however, claiming that he had been still iurther misrepresented. . ' . A Labour voice: A Punch and JUdv show.

“I am afraid I cannot follow the Minister,” confessed Mr Speaker, as, Mr Atmore. launched out into an explanation. ( ..... Mr Downie Steward (Reform, Dunedin West) also .claimed to liiive been misrepresented, but. 'h,e.,fi.•'s(> asked Mr Speaker’s permission as to whether die matter could be raised on a point of order. Mr Stewart was allowed to proceed, but Mr Speaker intervened to say he was afraid the point d-d not come under uiisrepremnbitirm “Well, it is an exphnation,” said Mr Stewart, smiling, and having the last word.