PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 118, 4 October 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m.

The McCarthy Trust Bill was put through all its stages.

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

Mr. Jones resumed the debase on the Public Servioe Bill. There was not, lie said, very much enthusiasm for the measure. It seemed to him that it really provided for Ministerial control under a maze of phrases. Referring, to one form of political patronage, nam eh' preference to Roman Catholics, he cited figua es to show that of 4800 employees m the Postal Department, the percentage of Roman Catholics was 15.79, while the population proposition for 15 years was 1G.19 per cent. The percentage of Roman Catholics m the .railway service uws no more than 15 per cent. No siiHe reason had been 'given for the acceptance of the Bill. To give power to Parliament was merely to give it to the Ministry of the day, •which made no change from the present position. They could mot dodge political influences, try how they would. This, lie continued, was one of the twin measures of the Government, but he hoped it would go the earoo way as the Legislative Council Reform Bill. It was not an open attempt to control and do justice to the civil service; it was the creature of a mere phantasy that was conjured up for political purposes. Mr. Ban- supported the Bill, which was an endeavour to meet a difficult .problem. Many American and Continental cities were adopting commissioner control for their enterprises with satisfactory results, and he approved of the experiment here. The Bill would encourage ability, and- that was proper in the interests of all, Mr, Barr proceeded to criticise some of the phrases of the

The Council rose till 8 p.m. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. on the Public Service Bill.

Mr. Rigg said that reform of the Civil Service was perhaps necessary, but it was the duty of the Ministry and not of paid commissioners to undertake this reform. It was a question of political patronage, or patronage by commissioners. Ministers, if abuses were proved, could be put out of office, but commissioners could not be dispensed with unless at the conclusion of their engagements. Mr. Carncross said that if the Government voluntarily chose to deprive itself of patronage, so as to bring forward such a measure as this, it showed that their motive was at least pure, and that must be appreciated. The present Government had made the Bill a plank of its platform, so it had been before the people, who had not condemned it. Mr. Loughnan said that he would have preferred to see the Government shoulderinging their responsibilities instead of, as it seemed, shirking them. The Bill was a departure from democratic principles. (Mr. Paul said that there were dangers in administration by commissioners, just as in patronage by a Minister. The time was coming when most of the State workers would be managed by a com-, missioner, but the workers would have' direct representation among these commissioners. The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 p.m. RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA. Replying to Mi'. Buxton respecting the question of a reciprocal tariff with Australia, Mr. Massey said that steps were being taken to arrange a conference between representatives of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It was also possible tliat South Africa would be represented at the conference.

TIIEj EDUCATION

The report of the Education Commission was, on Mr. Allen's motion, referred to the Education Committee for consideration, after a discussion, at the close of which, Mr. Allen admitted that there were anomalies in the present law, but that they could not be altered this year. Something, he said, would have to be done to alter the methods of voting for Education boards, and this matter would' bo attended to next session. VARIOUS BILLS.

The Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill was read a third time and parsed. The Pharmacy Amendment Bill was passed. The Auckland University College Amendment Bill, which provides for alteration of representation on the Board on a proportional system was read a second time.

LAND AND INCOME TAX.

Mr. Allen movtd the second reading of the Land Tax and Income Tax Bill. The mover said that the Bill was an annual one, and had 1 already been explained. Mr. Wilford described the Bill as a farce. It was eo constituted that i(s would make every member vote for it. It was cleverer' than MaskyJiiue and Cook's cabinet, trick, The effect of that Bill and the Valuation Bill worked together would mean that some large land-owners would get concessions. It was a tiptop Bill for that class.

Tilito House then ad'joimved. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr. Laurenson continued the debate on the Land and Income Tax Bill. lie said, that 110 one could vote ngai-nst the Bill, though they knew it was a sham. Nominally the Bill proposed to effect a tax, but actually it did nothing of the sort. The Bill would not break up one estate dn the country.

Mr. E. Newman held that 011 the present valuation 371 people, paid extra taxation tinder the Bill. He thought the taxation was a neii&anable one, and was convinced that the. Opposition wis'con cerned at the progress made by the Government, despite fch-c short time they had been in office.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the Govern-1 mo,iit had adopted the suggestions contained in the Governor's Speech of February last, and the present Opposition could not he expected to rote against thieir own policy. The Liberal party iad always advocated the 'exemption of improvements. The principle of exempt- | ing was a thoroughly sound and thoroughly effective one. The extra twentyflvo per cent, taxation was never intended to produce revenue, but to induct! largo land-owners to cut up their estates. He ad vocated fix in# a high graduated tax, to come into operation two or three years hence, go as to induce large la.nd holders to cut up their estates. In sonncotion with income tax. lie thought >a man with a large family should be. in a. different position to a bachelor or a man with one or two children. Ho 'enjoined the Minister of Finance to proceed warily, or else the country mkrlit stumble into a. financial pitfall. 'Mr. Payne described the land tax as a sham and a pretence. The Labor Party would like completely to stop the unearned increment going into private pockets. Mr. Eussell stated that the programme of the Reform Party prior to the election provided for a reduction of taxation wherever possible. There was no reference to an increased graduated land tax. Not a copper had been taken off Customs taxation so as to lessen the cost of living. A great maay people were ven-

titled to reduction before the man who had a farm worth £ 10,000. Mr. Isitt said that he would have to vote for the Bill, but notwithstanding that he despised it, because he looked upon it as a Tory subterfuge, a piece of property scenery. Mr. Fisher suggested that the liberal Party had been the biggest protectors of monopoly. It had failed to carry out its trust to the people in the way of reducing land monopoly, as the number of big estates existing after twenty years of Liberalism would show. For the first time an equitable scale of taxation was imposed. Mr, Allen having briefly replied, the second reading was agreed to.

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. Thie Public Trust Office Amendment Bill, providing, inter alia, for the appointment of Deputy Public Trustees in the four chief centres, and for temporary advances to the Public Trustee was read a second time. HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

The Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill, providing for the raising of £2oyooo additional for drainage works was readi a second time. The House rose at 12.43.