PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 16, 19 September 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER IS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

[Peh Pbbbs Association.] Wellington, September 18. The Legislative Council met at 2.3 D. THE COUNCIL BILL. The Hon. 0. Samuel said the evidence* collected, had caused him to change his opinion from his previous conviction that the nominative system was best. He was now satisfied that the Council did not possess the confidence of the country. He felt that something must be done or else worse might.happen. Either the Council might be abolished or, worse still, the Government Bill might be passed. The committee could not see its way to support the Government proposal, nor that of Mr, Sinclair. A test division could be taken on clause 9 of the Government Biil. If that was carried, then he could only pray that the Council would be speedily abolished. In the evening sitting the Hon. J. Rigg continued the debate. He sai;. : that the recommendations of'the committee were ridiculous and calculated to sap the independence of every mat in the Council. Any one making him self objectionable for the sake of principle to his fellow members woul have no chance of election. Th. principal objection to the proposal \va that labor could not get adequate re presentation in the Council, for tic present councillors were not going tc, vote out any of the present member to let a labor man in. He would vote against both the Government Bill am the eommittee's proposal. The Hon. S. T. George favored an elective Council, but on a property qualification. Unless this was mad the basis of the franchise, he won! not support the Government Bill.

The Hon. J. Duthie said that h was not in a happy position, as h< was satined that no Council can per form its duties properly unless it wa absolutely judicial. That conditio) could not be arrived at by election but if it was the will of the country to favor an elective Council.it was thduty of the Government to appoint if necessary, sufficient new Counci: lors to bring the Council into harmon with the will of the country. | The Hon. W. Earnshaw contende; that there was a clear mandate o.f tip people to set up an elective Counci 1 Perhaps the Government-Bill did noquite express the' public ideal, hut i was the last step in the direction o the, reform the people wanted. The debate was adjourned on tli motion of the Hon; A ! . Anstey and t'b Conned' rose, at,9.50 p.m.; -, ;; , : i

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30. FIRST READINGS

The following Bills were introduce by Governor's message and ' read first time:—Beer Duty Amendment the staffing, the present legislation pr> ment, Education Amendment, Hatiral Plains Amendment, Shipping and Se. men's Amendment and Public Revemi Amendment. THE EDUCATION BILL

Mr Allen explained some of the pr< visions of the Education Bill. H hoped, next year to deal with salaries staffing and superannuation. He ha been able to raise increments for teach ers from £5 to £lO annually. Ther were .'5212 teachers in the country, an 2124 of those would be affected t>' amendments. Provision was made fo the increase of salaries of lower grad teachers in training colleges and th increase of minimum salaries of grad one from £9O to £IOO, also an increas of the minimum allowance to prob i tibners. Xext year it was propose to. increase all grades of teachers. Th increase for j:>robationers was £'27 annually. The Bill would not affei? the fling, the present legislation pit riding for that. • Replying to criticism, Mr Allen sai< that if it were found necessary to fur ther search for money for ediicatioj he would not hesitate to rccommem that course to the Government. Mem bers had to remember that he had in creased the Graduated Land Tax las year (£30,000 had resulted),-and wa increasing the Income Tax this year Dealing with the suggestion that legis lation was piecemeal, he said that a! legislation was piecemeal, and had I be amended from year to year. Tli cost of rising the minimum of salarie from £9O to £IOO would be £220 yearly.

The House resumed at 7..'!0 p.m. Mr W. K. Massey moved;that o and after next Wednesday Governmcu business take precedence on Tfeduedays. Sir Joseph Ward proteste, against the taking away of privat members' privileges. He said i would be much better to extend th< session than take away private mem hers' days. The motion was carried.

The Industrial Conciliation and Ar bitration Act Amendment Bill wa read a second time pro orma. LAXD AXD INSUBAXCE TAX. The Land Tax and Income Tax 75ii fame up lor the consideration of tlr committee's ronort.

Sir Joseph Ward thought the iVFinis' ter had not gipen much consideration to income tax on companies. If the Bill went through in its present form. s?rious injustice would be done tr many industries and manufactories. Small shareholders and investors bar' 1 forwarded resolutions to him from many institutions in the Dominion protesting against the provisions incorporated in tiic Hill. The man who bad a large sum left io him should he taxed higher than, the man who earned bj s money by the sweat of his brow. He moved Io re-commit fchr Bill in order to re-consider t!"i provisions for eoniipnny and individual income tux.

Mr J. Allen said there was no change in the Bill regarding graduated income tax. The principle was on the Statute Book' to-day. He had simply- made it 2d higher. All he had put on to a company earning £lO,000 profits was £B3. He admitted there were weaknesses in the Billj but lie could not see at the present time any possibility of overcoming them. He regretted that he could not support the amendment. After discussion, a division failed on Sir -Joseph Ward's amendment, which was defeated oy 35, to 27. The motion for the third reading was defeated by one minute, the standing orders not allowing any new business to be taken after 12.30. The House adjourned at 12.35.