PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 84, 12 July 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Per Press Association). Wellington, July 11

The Council met at 2.30 p.hv. The Council agreed to a conference with managers of the House of Representatives' on the Military Service Bill. The Hons. Sir F. Bell. O. Samuel and W. .Morgan were appointed managers on behalf -1 the Council. Tile following local Hills were received from the House of .Representatives ami read a first time: Auckland Har-

bo,- ‘Board j I'hnpfivvcithig, Wanganui Borough ColutreiH*. Street Access Empowering Amendment, City of Nelson Loan . Conversion and Empowering Amendment. A motion of condolence with' the speaker and his family off tlid 1 death of his youngest son at the Wat -1 wffis passed, on the motion of Hon. Sir F. 8011, seconded by. Hon. J. I). Ormond. The Council then adjourned as a mark of respect. ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at £.30. PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Sir Joseph Ward laid on the table the annual statement concerning the public buildings of the Dominion, which raised a lengthy discussion on the inadequate accommodation at the Christchurch, Timarn ajnd Dunedin post offices. Several members contended that the work on Parliament buildings should be stopped, or at least delayed, and the money expended on roads in the backbloeks.

Hon. W. Fraser, in reply, said the whole delay in the erection of Parliament buildings was due to the difficulty in getting marble. Delay had also occurred in getting steel for the construction of the roof. He intended to complete the building in accordance with the original design, so that it would lie a credit to all concerned.

Sir Joseph Ward, referring to applications for expenditure on post offices, said it was recognised that during the war expenditure on buildings must be limited. There was no intention on the part of the Government to go in *or a building programme at the present time. The total amount paid tor office accommodation at Wellington amounted to £.-,800. not £IO,OOO, as had been stated. The. paper was ordered to he printed. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30, when .Mr Anstey continued the debate on tile second reading of the Finance Bill. He thought the House was entitled to a tidier explanation than the Finance Minister had given them as to the

reason why four militias more than the amount strum in the Budget was required, Ho favored the exemption being reduced to £2OO. Referring to 1 “excess profits,’’ he regretted the term “war profits’ had been eliminated He had not met a single farmer who objected to pay Ids share of the necessary taxation, while he wa s sure some, who ought to bear their share of taxation, would escape. Too much power was loft in the hands of the Commis- ' sinner, and he thought it advisable to provide for an Appeal Board. The i Dominion was highly prosperous, and the present was a good time to enact, taxa lion. Dr. ..Newman said the linn nee proposals were calculated to cause consternation. He thought the Finance Minister would have been wisely advised | had the proposals been first submitted to the Public Acc .unis Committee. He criticised adversely several features of the Bill and contended that a number of the smaller men of the Dominion were unfairly taxed when compared with the rich men. He pointed out that young lawyers, doctors, and others of that class would be unfairly taxed. He also favored the appointment of a Board of Appeal, and pointed out that the taxation was generally on thrift, while he considered it should be levied on luxuries. It was a matter for regret that no attempt had been made to pay off any indebtedness, although money was being accumulated as a reserve in London, especially when we had had two years of unexampled prosperity. Ho contended j that too much money was being raised for public works. Tn England, people w ore constantly being advised to economise, while we were making no provision for the rainy day that must inevitably follow on the war. Mr Sidey said that had the Government adopted a bold policy they would have commandeered the primary products, but a.s this policy had not been carried out export duties should have been imposed. Mr Nosworthy contended that graduations of income-tax over £2OOO should have been largely increased. He argued that voluntarily taxation, such as on amusements and beer should have been utilised. The Dominion had a heavy loan of taxation to carry, but he thought that if its affairs were administered with care and prudence it could be carried. Mr Payne commented on the ...fact, that there wajs lying at the banks, over,, twenty millions which, was not paying, interest, the loss to the owners being abnu- ■one million. _ ;ti( Mr Dams argued in favour of diffen initiation for taxation purposes be“lUio earned and unearned incomes, and. expressed himself in favor of lowering the amount of the exemption undei the income tax. Ho thought the proposals for the taxation of excess profits wei ■ wrong, the levy should be on war profits. He approved of the war bonn.s to civil servants, but only on incomes up to £2OO. .Mr Isitt urged the taxation of amusements, as it would check waste and encourage thrift. Mr Glover favored an export duty on wool, meat, cheese and other products. 'lhe debate was adjourned and the House rose at 11.30. . ; .