PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 77, 4 July 1916, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association). Wellington, July 3

The House met at 7.30 p.m. The amendments to the Land and Income Tax Bill were introduced by Governor's Message. , Sir Joseph Ward indicated the nature of the amendment's proposed to he submitted in the Land and Income l'flx Bill. He said that with regard to the question, of a half-caste, it had been decided to remove that definition for the purposes of the Bill. A halfcaste was not a native. Mortgages would not be taxed after that legislation was passed. He hoped to make up the revenue that would be lost by economics in expenditure.

Mr Witty congratulated the Minister on the fact that mortgages were to bo exempted from taxation. Mr McCallum thought a distinction should be made between earned and unearned income.

Mr Newman (IJangitikei) thought too much taxation was being cxpecieo from farmers. He did not wish to put country against town, but it was manifest that the position would havejto be considered so that unfair exaction was not made from one class. Ho thought the Finance Minister had acted wisely in withdrawing the mortgage tax. ', :.

<:Mr Wilford submitted a number of instances showing comparisons between ;the amounts paid in taxation by the leitv man and the farmer.

Mr Massey pointed out the differanee between,the two classes:. Jt was that intone case a city man made his tevenue through a turnover of business from the land, while in the case of a countryman the main tax was levied on the land itself. He assertecr that farmers were quite ready to cany their fail.', share of taxation., Sir Joseph Ward said that it was proposed to continue the exemption* exactly as they were before. He believed, the taxation, proposed would lielptri the price of mpnt-v which ( esseu ; tiaill j {|ltnd peculators 'were compelled to consideiiftblei* .smniii a|f|fcij«tiW the question of lowering tm>Hefc<jsfptjion to £l5O. he said, it and 4 'tW Sncjoiijfc would amount to £97,000. i\\ would "not be worth the cost of collection.: ! iH'e was not going into the' guestioii; [of unearned income lit pre* pmtrlMo doubt the whdle policy of taxation" would have to be Reconsider-' ed in a few years' time. When that, was done no doubt some of the suggestions made would receive consideration. The present Bill was introduced to carry out the Government's policy. i|p.ney, as outlined in the Budget, must be provided for war purposes, and it necefflfrfft JBf e amounts should not be tinder ied. . ~, . ~, (iribji-. THE FINANCE M , ./.

The Finance Bill was introduced byGovernor's' After the jsufeer' Adjournment .Sir Joseph Warcjj maae u a"h'Vxplana'tioh or the Finance bill. \ The House' \verti coroniifcteo to; consider the amendments ?n t&fcJ Land and Income Tax Bill. »everMHimendnients and postpone!! clauses were put through without discussion. The Premier announced that he had received additional donation to the amount of £IOOO towards the British Sailors' Dependent'?' Fund. House rose at 11 o'clock.