POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 68, 25 July 1913, Page 7

POLITICAL.

The law in regard to banks giving information in respect to the income of those having deposits had not been operative for some time. When the Government came into office this was pointed out by the departmental officers. He (Mr Allen) had met the authority representing the banks, and they had agreed to allow the clause to be operative as from April Ist last. Local bodies and others receiving' deposits wore also to be included in the operation of this clause.

The Minister for Finance says* the Government has decided to liberalise the Income Tax. An amending bill has been introduced by the Hon. Mr Allen, who stated that it provided for an increas-

ed exemption in the case of persons j who had children dependent upon them. The present exemption of £3OO .applied to all, but the Government considered that a further exemption of £25 should be allowed in respect I of each dependent child up to the age of 16, and limited to a total exemption of £IOO. Under this head provision was also made that the spe-

ciaj exemption should not apply if the total income derivable from all sources, including- land, exceeds £7OO per annum.; The Hon. W. H. Herries characterised as impracticable a proposal made by Mr Bradney that the Government should provide houses for the whole of the railway-men employed about stations. It would be equally inadvisable, the Minister added, to give preference in respect to Government houses to on© section of the railway employees. Arrangements are being made to appoint a New Zealand trade representative for Canada.

The Government propose to introduce legislation this session dealing with the pea-rifle danger. The Government promise to give consideration in drafting their Land Bill to the proposal to give settlers, who already have the option of securing the freehold,-the opportunity of paying the capital value of the land oy instalment*. .. The Prime Minister states that it is not intended to reinstate the sheep tax. i

The Distress Limitation Bill introduced by Mr A. H. Hindtnarsh proper es to amend the Distress and Replevin IAcS-iby' exb’rhpting from' distress fof rent furniture as well as, family clothing, bed clothes, bedding, ahd ; toojs of trade, and-by increasing the total value of the exemption allowed to -£SQ, instead of £25. •- • s

Mr T. K. Sidey has introduced a Daylight Saving Bill, which he calls “Definition of i.Time Bill.” He proposes • that from the first Sunday in November in each year until the first ‘Sunday in February in each year N?|fZealand clock time shall be one ho,uri /ii' advance New Zealand solar tim*,, and that for the rest of the year New Zealand' clock time shall be the same AU time for New Zealand. The ■ Gaming Amendment Bill by Mr T. M. Wilford provides that instead of a maximum number of racing days for which permits to use the totalisator may he granted, “the issue of such licenses shall be so regulated ■ that the licenses issued in any one year will, as far as can be arranged, be available upon not more thin 250 specific days of that year.” As race, meetings in several large centres are commonly held on the same day, the effect of Mr Wilford’s Bill will he to increase the number of racing days. Mr Wilford proposes that in allotting the extra totalisator licenses preference shall be given (without prejudice to the renewals of existing licenses) to the claims of those country racing clubs and trotting clubs wdiose licenses were not renewed, or the number of days covered by the licenses were reduced, in accordance with the report of the Racing Commission. After these clubs have been provided for, he suggests that the Minister for Internal Affairs may grant licenses to hunt clubs, but not more than ten in any one year.