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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 165, 21 October 1910, Page 5

as had happened in similar cases m tne past. Mr. Liiurenson ought to be content with putting on record his resentment. Any further action would probably do the writer more good than harm. This view was accepted, and the motion withdrawn. COMMERCIAL TRUSTS. The adjourned debate on tho Commercial Trusts Bill was resumed by Mr. Buchanan, who considered it a mistake not to include shipping rings in the schedule of the Bill, so as to prevent interference with free trade in shipping matters. Mr. Okey was of opinion that care should be "taken in passing such legislation not to prevent the introduction of capital necessary to develop new industries. The Bill was an honest attempt to deal with the mischievous machinations of commercial combines. The Bill ought to be extended to a large number of industries other than those included in the schedule. • Mr. Fraser, while considering the Bill necessary, thought it would be difficult to apply the provisions so far as they aimed at restricting profits on commodities. Messrs Hogg and Buxton (the latter representing the Vacuum Oil Co.) supported the Bill. Mr. Russell said it would .be better if a board were set up to regulate prices instead of prosecuting traders who charged excessive prices. He wont on to refer to newspaper monopolies, which, he said, would call for the attention of the Government before long. (Mr. Russell is the owner of the Christchurch Spectator). Mr. Allen dwelt on the difficulties connected with the operation of legislation created by the Bill. A number of associations existed to cheapen the cost of production, and the Bill might affect them adversely, as such combinations were deemed trusts under clause 2. The schedule was incomplete, and should include fish.

Mr. Taylor said the State should enquire into newspaper monopoly in Christchurch, where the newspapers were earning huge profits and charging excessive rates for advertising. Some check was necessary on banks, but the only way to achieve this was to increase State conjpetition. Brewers ought to come undor the Bill. Wherever it was possible for the State to act as a check to the extortions of private enterprise it was >tke duty of the State to enter into competition therewith. ,„j After further discussion, Sir .Joseph Ward, replying, said the debate shewed how difficult it was to deal with qiii&stions affecting the prices of food. He was not prepared to make the Schedule general in application, as this would interfere with legitimate trading, though it might be advisable to add a few more articles to the schedule. It was impossible to prevent shipping firms rings, as the companies would rem&ve their headquarters,, to other countries. The Bill in no.way interfered with capital and , proper trading. He could not agree to"Beer beihg:included in thHchedule, as it would probably kill the Bill. He did not think it would be desirable to set up i suggested by sdriral members. He would to, consider any scheme for arriving at'an estimate of a fair price when the » readied its committee stage. He agreed that State enterprise had been of great advantage. A motion to go into commfttee was agreed to.

SECRET COMMISSIONS'. """ iSir the second reading of the Secret Commissions Bill, which renders it- illegal for—ogeats-.re-ceiving bribes or any other consideraHioh from' 4 thirdf'persoij .'in jjespacir of services or "behalf ". 0 f their principalsi: i ;Tlie., consent of ■ General had to he obtained before a prosecution -could be; made. The second' Beading was carried. POST AXD TELEGRAPHS. . Tlie Post and Telegraphs Amendment .Bia.was.vead.a, second time on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward. The object of the Bill is to place -the Depai-titent under one head (a secretary) in plafre of the divided control existing at present. LAND AND INCOME TAX. * The second reading of the Land ! Tax and Income Tax Bill was rnqvinl Jfjt* Sir Josepfc Ward: He explained thd ifeirprovisions in the Bill, which consisted of graduated income tax levied, risfifr to V 2 d in the £' on incomes not 'exceeding £2OOO and an' increase in the ahiount levied on banks. -fri>^ Mr. Allen said he could not understand why the Premier proposed such increases in taxation when it was not The increase in the graduated ineqra® tax would produce £BO,OOO and '£«#<» additional would be derived front tfie»iiflnks. The 'Premier ought to provide.<sak the remission of £IOO,OOO taxation? >il another direction, to balance this. ~i«e complained that the graduation .W.ipq; high in the case of incomes helowj£jMd. Mr. Russell .also considered tliat. men with incomes below £IOOO .were Jiving more m. proportion than those hann« incomes oVer that amount. He wn<iil<j f iave preferred to see taxation incomes up to £IO,OOO, which *eih those best able to bear it. ' Mi. I*laser asked tlie Piemjer if he would supply figures showing itte numer of l )e , o i>?9 who would pay taxation on incomes between £7OO and *£looo7* Mr. Tajjor (Cliristchurch) agreed with 'the 1 views expressed by Mr.-Russlff