PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 130, 10 September 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. • Wellington, Last Night. In the Council this afternoon the Destitute Persons Bill was read a third time and passed. The Rangitikei Land Drainage Bill and Town Board Bill was reported from committee without amendments. The Exhibitions Bill passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Prime Minister gave notice thai the Tobacco Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message. It was read a first time. THE CRIMES BILL. The Speaker gave a ruling in regard to the Crimes Amendment Bill received from the Legislative Council in regard to the effect that clause 27, sub-clause 3, was a distinct appropriation one and therefore a distinct infringement of the privileges of the House. The Bill could either be laid aside or a motion carried that the House does not insist upon its privileges. Sir J. G. Ward moved that attention having been called to a breach of privileges of the House by the Council, the privileges be in this instance waived, but such a waiver was not to be taken as a precedent on future occasions. The Bill was a humanitarian measure, and included a provision for paying wages to convicts. He believed the House would prefer to see the Bill proceed.

Mr. Massey was strongly of opinion that the course proposed bv Sir J. G. Ward was a wrong one. He regretted the Prime Minister had not risen"to the occasion, instead of standing up for the rights and .privileges of the House he led. He had humiliated the House by making a pitiful speech. The debate continued throughout the afternoon sitting. In the House in the evening, Sir J. G. Ward's motion waiving the breach ot privilege by the Council was carried bv 43 to 25.

DEBATE ON THE ESTIMATES. The House went into committee of supply to consider the Estimates, and a general debate commenced on the first item of the Legislative Department. Mr. Massey raised the question of retrenchment, and said the figures did not bear out Sir J. G. Ward's contention that £200,000 had been saved as a result of the retrenchment scheme. He said it was common gossip that there was a number of firms who had been offenders against the Income Tax Department besides the one prosecuted, but that these ha<l been able to bring political pressure to bear.

Sir Joseph Ward said he would give information in regard to retrenchment as the Estimates proceeded. In the meantime, he stated that 1041 people had been retrenched. The permanent saving was £258,712, and the temporary saving £247,474, a total of £506,187. | Regarding the alleged irregularities in the Income Tax Department, he was not responsible for street gossip. He denied, that there was any political influence! brought to bear on the Department. Mr. Herdman said there was no reason why the names and all information con-1 nected with the retrenchment scheme I should not be given. Referring to the 1 erection of the Governor's residence,, Mr. Herdman said he understood the I capital value of the piece of land pur-i chased for the enlargement of thei grounds of Government House was| £6OOO, and the Government paid £lO,-1 000. I

Mr. Taylor, referring to the charges against the Commissioner of Taxes, contended it was the right of every member of the 'House. und<n- nroner conditions to have access" to any official report in the hands of the executive. Publicity was the healthiest thinjr m the world for public affairs. Mr. Taylor went on to Tefer to the grievance of cadets in the Civil Service, many of whom, after years of training, were receiving less than the casual clerks.

Mr. Fisher asked Sir Joseph Ward if he had heard tjie name of an ex-Min-ister of the Grown in connection with the recent prosecutions. He hoped the Prime Minister would place before the House the balance of the report of the commission of inquiry into the Land and Income Tax Department, and so allay all suspicions and rumours at present rife.

Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr. Herdman, re the purchase of land for Government grounds, said that the £lO,000 included several houses, and the price paid was that recommended by the 3aud purchase officer, who was of opinion that if the matter had been referred to arbitration the Government would have had to pay a much larger sum.

Sir J. G. Ward, replying to Mr. ITerdman and others, said the information possessed by the Taxation Department in regard to the personal affairs of taxpayers ought to .be held sacred. A minister had to take an oath of secrecy on taking office, and if the principle of secrecy was to be broken in one case, why not in all cases?

Mr. Massey said it seemed that the whole business of the Government rested on Sir J. G. Ward's shoulders, and suggested that the Premier's colleagues should bear a share of some of his responsibilities. He agreed with Sir J. G. Ward that the private affairs of taxpayers should be kept secret, but in regard to a recent case there had been too much secrecy, and too much of Star Chamber methods. (Left Sitting.) ~.. .„