PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 170, 27 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Pre® Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council the Attor-ney-{jeneral moved the second reading: of the Justices of the Peace Amendment; Bill, which provides that where any person who is imprisoned for non-payment of a fine or in respect of default of sufficient distress to satisfy such line, pays any sum in part satisfaction of the lino and of any costs and charges for which he is liable, the term of his' imprisonment shall be reduced in proportion to the amount paid. The bill was read a. second time. The Stone Quarries Bill was further considered in committee, and progress again reported. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, the Ministers stated that it was impossible to say when the House would be given an opportunity to adopt or otherwise the recommendations of the Timber Commissioners; that it is intended to have the Wages Protection and Contractors' Liens Act, 1908, revised during the recess, with a view of removing anomalies and inconsistencies from the same; that provision is being made in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill for quarterly sittings of the Court in each of the four centres. The Lands Committee reported on the petition of the settlers in the Thames Valley, praying for the removal of restrictions 011 settling of lands in that district. The committee recommended the petition to the favorable consideration of the Government. On the motion of Mr. E. H. Taylor (Thames) it was agreed to have the report and evidence printed. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing the answers to questions. ' The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives in the evening the 'Commercial Trusts, Secret Commissions, and Post and Telegraphs Bills were read a third time and passed. LAND AND INCOME TAX. Sir Joseph Ward moved that the amendments of the Council in the Land and Income Tax Bill should be agreed to. Mr. Massey entered a protest against the Bill. While agreeing with the graduated income tax, he, saw no reason for increasing the burdens of the people approximately by £IOO,OOO a year, seeing that the country's finances were buoyant. The Premier pointed to the fact that the Dominion had adopted a system of \ setting aside a. portion of its surplus revenue for public works, so as to avoid borrowing. It was ridiculous to cavil at the proposed" taxation, and equally absurd to say that taxation would be passed on. Mr. Massey's theorising was based on the financial authorities of past ■ ages, and would not satisfy men in the backblocks. The motion was agreed to. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. T. E. Taylor moved, as an amendment. that in view of the large surpluses accruing this year, proving that the Dominion's finances are in a buoyant condition, and that people have the right to spend their incomes as they think fit, after paying the taxes necessary for government; and that the Bill exempts incomes over £2OOO a year from taxation (?); and that the known surpluses would justify reduction in taxation; the House, while approving the principle of graduated taxation, is of opinion that the Bill should be read this day six months. He went on to criticise the financial system, which he characterised as one of patchwork and undemocratic. On the amendment being put, it was lost by 53 to 12. At midnight the debate was still going