PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 71, 28 June 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Juno 27. The Council me/ at 2v3Q p.nn *.>.„■, The Military Service Bill, as reported; .from, the, jftatutes, Reyiskuij .CJo.nimitifee, was considered in tee. An amendment raising the ago fr,om 20; to'2l;* jWofloßed *};\viisha\y,, waslrejected ss>'Rim>°)i>' ,% ]9,tp'3. ; I Hon.W, T. Gedrje moved to&fniythe clause -making |ien married since May, 1915, eligiblj?. Lost on the voices. , . , '■

An amendment by Paul providing that a man punished for failing to register should not be handed over to the military authorities for service abroad, was rejected. Clause IS, dealing with the right of appeal and with the religious objector, was postponed.* j " '' "'.,'"' A new clauses-providing for the constitution of a final'appeal board was passed on a division, by 18, to 4.,

A new clause dealing with the nature of the W&rlt tqfbe required from persons exempted fronr military~7ervice was postponed, the remainder of the clauses being passed with ' minor 'amendments, i Progress was reported, ami'thtv Council rose at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE TARANAKI SWISS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr C. A. Wilkinson, the Premier said he had not seen any reference in the public press to pro-Cer-man demonstrations in Taranaki by people of Swiss nationality. He would have an enquiry made by the police, but it went without saying that the Government would not tolerate any anti-British demonstrations by people of any nationality in this Dominion. BOARD OF TRADE.

Replying to Mr C. H. Poole, the Premier said it was his intention to lay before Parliament interim reports of' the Board of Trade. LABOR DEPARTMENT. The Premier laid on the table the report of the' Labor Department. Discussion thereon was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. LAND AND INCOME-TAX BILL. When the House resumed the Land and Income-tax Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward explained that the Bill was in the nature of a consolidating measure. Probably only fourteen or fifteen clauses were new. He explained the changes involved in part live. The income of a New Zealand company whose sole or principle business is that of gold mining was exempted from taxation. Clause 92 provides for the apportionment in cases where income was derived partly in New Zealand and partly elsewhere. The next clause provides that income not derived from New Zealand is exempt if chargeable with tax in other parts of the British Dominions. In the case of banking companies, income was exempted by the Loans Amendment Act, 1915. It is provided that unpaid tax after three months shall be surcharged twelve and a half per cent., after six months, fifteen per cent. Provision is made for the payment of treble tax a<; a. penalty for evasion of tax. He moved the second rending. Mr Wilford protested against such an important Bill being placed before the House when members had not had J

time to intelligently master the details. Mr Pearcc agreed, and cited clauses in the Bill which required amendment. .Messrs Witty, McCombs, and "Dr. Newman favored the idea of a postponement of the debate. Mr Forbes argued that there was urgent need for the revision of the whole incidence of taxation, particularly that of the graduated land tax, with a view of the bursting up of large estates. Messrs Buddo, Newman (Rangitikei), and Anstey supported Mr Forbes' view. Mr Payne said the time had arrived when the evasion of the payment of income-tax should be punished by imprisonment. He considered there should be no exemption from income-tax.

j Mr Young contended that objectors should have representation on the assessment courts. He also pointed out that no exemption was allowed under the Bill for payment of mortgage on ordinary land tax.

Sir Joseph Ward regretted that the time for the consideration of the Bill was limited but it was necessary this Bill should precede war taxation. The Bill was mainly a consolidating measure, no attempt being made to reconstruct the whole system of taxation. He contended that nothing in the Bill was detrimental to the Government Life Insurance Department. With regard to the allegations about the taxation of farmers on their debts through mortgages, this was unavoidable, and had to be continued. He denied there was any intention to penalise, the farmers by double payment, and said the Government could not

bo expected to give credit on taxation for amounts contributed to war funds. The Bill was road a second time. The House rose at 11.4/5 p.m.