PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 146, 23 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

leGislatiVE C OUNCIL

WELLINGTON, June 22. The Council met at 2.50.

The Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Amendment Bui was read a hist time.

Sir Francis Bell said The anticipated the Military Service Bill would oe available from the Statutes Revision Committee to-morrow, and .ie proposed to take the committal on Tuesday. The Council rose at 2.35.

HOUSE OB REPRESENTATIVES,

WELLINGTON, dene 22 The House met at 2.30.

SAW3IILLERS’ COMBINE

Among the questions asked was one by Mr. Walker, who directed the Prime Minister’s attention to a paragraph in the Dunedin “Star” alleging that a combination of South Island sawmillers had been formed and that die price >f timber had been raised by 3s Gd per hundred feet. 3lr. Massey said lie would direct the. attention of the Board of Trade to the matter. Mr. Massey announced that among cheques received for the British Sailors’ Dependants Fund was one for £'sooo from the Wellington Navy League. He understood more was to come. THE BUDGET. MIL PEARCE’S AMENDMENT LOST The debate on Mr. Pearce’s amendment to go into committee of supply was resumed by Mr. Wright, who agreed with the proposal to ttke 45 percent of war profits. He argued that taxation of the goodwill of liquor bars would provide considerable revenue. He also favoured higher taxation an motor cars and tyres from America. He believed a local war Joan would bo successful, although it might be advisable to make the period less than twenty-five years. Mr. Hudson advocated increasing th> Graduated Income Tax by 50 per cent, relieving the small man of ‘he five per cent impost. He suggested a wool tax should be based on war profit ti§ tourpence per pound. They should approach with caution »the qi estion • f cutting down expenditure on education. Economy in this direction might prove misplaced. He strongly favoured taxation of picture shows, Mr. Hindmarsh favoured the taxation of unimproved values of land as all important at the present time. Ho congratulated the Minister upon the proposals in the Budget, although some were open to amendments. He favoured export tax on butter, cheese an I meat. » Mr, Rhodes (Thornes) thought there would be difficulty in arriving at war profits. He thought taxation of amusements would produce a larger snm ; th*fh anticipated by the Minister. He urged the necessity of proceeding with public works.

Dr. Thacker urged that public works should-ho-carried on. " He’ specially* 33plorocl the delay in carrying out the erection' of the new Parliament buildings and the Otira tunnel. The latter work would greatly reduce the cost of |itdng in The South, Island bv cheape’n!,ing 'tlyo iirice of coal. He urged the Minister of Internal Affairs fc keep a keen watbja Vupon what he called the “Huns in ;our midst,” in'the shape "t ca ncer, tuberculosis, and private diseases.

Mr. Field (Nelson) continued the debate till 5 o’clock, when, no oilier member wishing to speak, the Speaker pul the question and tbc amendment was negatived on the voices. The House then went into committee of supply to consider the estimates f Legislative department, , £36,120, which passed without discussion. The Department of Finance, £170,096, also passed without discussion. On the Post and Telegraph vote, £1,336,659, Mr. Witty urged that more slot telephones be provided in cities. The request was strongly supported ay Messrs Glover, Poole and Veitch. The House adjourned at 5 30. The House resumed at 7.30. Discussing the Post and Telegraph Department estimate, Mr, Witty complained of the excessive cost of telephone installations outside to meet the claims of individual districts for additional telephonic facilities. Sir Joseph Ward said the returns from telephones only amounted to l.±o ner cent. Mr. Ngata made,a strong clan* sar increased wire accommodation between Napier and Gisborne. Sir Joseph Ward said material was now being sent forward for this work. He also said magazines would ho forwarded for the use of soldiers free of charge, but could not he sent to individuals. At 10.35 the vote was passed. Working railways, £3,045,000, was next taken. . 1 Mr. Veitch took exception to thei General Manager holding a position in the Defence Department. He pointed out that the General Manager had nob altered the policy or administration of • the Department, which was certainlY a compliment to the former management. He regretted to lieai o tiiction between the General Manager and some of the staff. A number of local grievances were ventilated during the discussion. Mr Herries stated that nearly all the requests involved expenditure of funds. Alarm bells were heig installed at the most dangerous crossings. His relations with the railwoymen’s societies were of the. most cordial nature. Mr. Veitch protested against the Estimates being considered without a departmental report being available. The Minister pointed out that the session was held earlier this year than usual. LAST NIGHT’S SITTING K WELLINGTON. This day . After the Telegraph office closed Mr Veitch strongly protested against railway facilities at Wanganui being neglected. At Auckland, be said, about seven lines were in routomplat- ( ion while Wanganui had to be content with a service similar to that in use twenty years ago. He claimed fair treatment in this matter for the district he represented. He again referred to the discontent amongst the staff and asked the Minister to serf* ously consider his objection. The House udjourncd at 2 a.m.