PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 245, 6 July 1915, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. PREMISED EARLY. HEAVY CALL ON REVENUE. WELLINGTON. Saturday. Business has been done with extraordinary rap'i-dity-this'session, and the Government will endeavour to keep up the pace by Introducing the financial statement many weeks earlier than usual. If the statement is delivered by August, after the -session has run six weeks, members do not complain of delay. but this 'time lit has -nearly been drafted, and will be in print earl}' this week. No financial statement of recent years has come np to this one for importance. Our loan interest and sinking fund expenditure amounts to just over three millions stealing annually in normal times, but this session J s financial statement will disclose how the Minister of Finance proposes to raise another £370,000 per annum at least to meet the standing charges on war loans to be raised during the -current year. Taxation is bound- to be increased, and the income taxpayer may regard himself as specially -selected for attention. He will ascertain liis fate in the financial statement, •which may be delivered at the end of nekt week. Tf-not it will come on early the following weCk. Simultaneously the necessary legislation to authorise increased taxation -will be introduced.

PRIVATE MEMBERS 1 ’ EFFORT. The Government may promise the minimum of legislation .-other than -on war matters, and members may ■ exorcise wonderful self-restraint in ’letting the Address-in-Reply debate get through in two hours instead of the usual three weeks, but they will not be 'denied their privilege of introdrei-ng bills, which never, as a rule, get as far ■as ■ the third reading stage. Mr. 'Wilford (Hutt) was luckier than the average member last session, with Ms Factories Act Amendment. It deals vrt'h the hours of women workers in fire .woollen factories, and was heartily approved by the House of Representa?tives. Having passed that chamber, it went-to‘the Lords, who killed H just .-as •the clrances seemed brightest, Hc-w----.ever, Mr. AVilford is going to try again ’this .session. Other old friends in the sway .of private members r legislation ■winch have imsde an early appearance •are -the Hon. ft. Bud do’s very ancient Lights on Vehicles Bill, Mr. Mi-Cab lu-rnM Betterment Bill, and M>. Sidey’s Daylight Saving T 3t£ll. Under an entirely -now title, which .does not disclose its intention, Mr. WiMhc-’d has given notice to- Introduce the State Advances Amead«ieet Bill.