PARLIAMENTARY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

SESSION’S LAST WEEK. THE REMAINING BUSINESS. (By Telegraph—Per Press A ssociation) WELLINGTON, April 30. An indication of tlie concluding legislation of the session was given this afternoon by the Prime Minister, who announced that in addition to other measures, it was ■ proposed bn submit the annual taxing bill to the House next week. Mr Forbes said that the measure would reimpose all the existing rates of income taxation, including the surtax passed last session, and that there would be no increase in the rate or any interference with tlie statutory or other exemptions. He also intimated that a clause in the Finance Bill, also to be introduced next week, will inaugurate the practice of the .payment of income tax on the instalment basis. It was done in Great Britain.

“By fixing the tre/te of taxation now,” the Prime Minister added, “it will be possible to issue the assessments much earlier than has usually been the case, and enable the scheme of payment to be spread over a longer period.”

In reply to a question. Mr Forbes said that the promised legislation dealing with the State Advances mortgagors would be in the direction o 1 giving the Superintendent of the State Advances Office wider powers in relation to giving remissions and rebates. Another measure, he said, would be one designed to extend the li f e of Parliament from three to four years. This, he anticipated, would he passed without a great deal of trouble.

There would he a small Land Laws Amendment Bill, enabling the Crown to grant relief to certain of its tenants. There would be an amendment to the Fruit Control Act to allow Otago fruitgrowers to determine, by referendum, whether their produce should be marketed under the control scheme. There would also he legislation rati ying the trade treaty with Canada.

The Prime Minister said that it was not certain whether legislation would be necessary in connection with tho trade agreement with . Belgium signed hist year. “We will finish easily by next Saturday,” said Mr Forbes, when asked when he expected the session to end. Ho added that if the question of extending the supply authorities arose, that matter would be dealt with in the Finance Bill. No decision had yet been reached concerning the time of tin' opening of the ordinary session of Parliament.