PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1915, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. j NEW BILLS. ;< , By Telegraph.—Frets Association, Wellington Last Night., In the Houso to-day the uawgettf Trust Estate Bill vas read a third time and passed. The Military Manoeuvres Bill, Land Transfer Act Compilation Bill, and Fruit Preserving Industry Amendment Bill were introduced 'toy Governor's message and read ft firsi time. THE BUDGET DKBATK. In the evening, the dehate on the Budget was continued hy Mr. J. B. Iline, who said that it was strange, in ,>it>w of the expense caused by the war, 'that,' no attempt was made to taper off expenditure. There were many 'departments in which economy could be prac-' tised. The figures for the current year showed considerable increases in expen-' diture, and he thought there should'bo reduption in expenditure on public vofcks, particularly in buildings, lie was ts- . tonished to find that a contract had been let, at £30,000, for a new polhc station at Wellington. He favored'an export tax during the war, and ho, objected to a tax on mineral oils. He gtjnsidered the beer duty proposed insufficient. He hoped the Xational Government'would bo the forerunner of an elective executive. Mr. Veitch referred to. the fact that Ministers were not taking part in the debate, but hoped they would take the House into their confidence. He said that for a long while the producers had had a good time, and now members suggested tliat economics should bo practised in the publie service. There wou'd ,bo unemployment if public works were stopped. Hq considered the beer tax should have been doubled years ago. Brewers would make light rubbishy beers and so escape the increase. He was prepared to support the* Government in everything they proposed for taenia of the Dominion and the Empire. Mr. T. K. SiHey said he could not agreo with those who condemned (he proposal to borrow two millions in the Dominion. The Government, no doubt, had carefully considered flic matter before cow ing to a decision. It was apparent Uiift the new taxation had been suggested in a spirit of conciliation and comprWrniwi, also that heads of departments hod boon consulted. He objected to an ewport tax, for the reason that values might fall and lower the demand for poor land. The increase in the land tax, on the other hand, caught farmers while price* were good, but would not oppress them when qirioo-i Ml. Mr. Hudson wi'd that c*:J u\U the Budget had been carefully coiup'W, with a view of putting the Gurdcn'on those best able to boar it. Whatever that burden was, he was confident it would be cheerfully borne by those concerned. He objected to the tax on petrol, but thought the tax on car* might W> increased, lie considered the Budget represented a fair mid honest effort to meet the difficulties of the position. Mr. Veiteh suggested that one of the railway workshops should be set «;u»Tt for making munitions, especially ma-chine-guns. -ltot.il men and material ' were available, lie objected (o thiMpro•posai to stop public works to make labor invailable for farmers unless conditions as to remuneration were arranged. Xatiorstj registration was ft good proposal. i.e complained that lift attempt had been made to take advantage of thu report made in 11)12 by the ( ommission the.* i inquired into the cost of llving.\ He congratulated the country on the for*alion of a Xational Cabinet. Mr. <;. \. Pcar.-e s ;l id he did not object to rich landowners being taxed, but bis objection was to the incidence of taxation, which wa.s unfair, lie preferred a halfpenny increase of the land tax, which would give £150.1)00. Ho was not satisfied that the increase in the lax would prove Satisfactory, a* it wou'd enable shirkers to get off li'jlitlv a* against the men who made honest returns. The House rose at midnight.