PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1915, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. KEPLIES TO QUESTIONS. By Telegraph.—®resa Association. Wellington, Last Night, To Mr. Young, the Minister of Defence said that lie was grateful to the Legion of Frontiersmen for their offer of a regiment of 500 men, but lie conld not say whether the offer could be accepted. He had, that day, received a deputation from Scotsmen, asking that a company raised by them might be accepted for the front. These units were I becoming more numerous, and he fully expected to be waited on by the Irishmen in a few days, and possibly the Welshmen might be coming forward. Personally, he preferred to have a national anny of our own, but he would consult the Commandant on the point. To Mr. Witty, the Prime Minister said that as soon as the Finance Bill was ■disposed of he would make a statement as to what Bills would be gone on with. He hoped to bring the session to a close about the middle of next week, BILLS AND AMENDMENTS.

• In tlie House this afternoon, on the anotion of Hon. W. A. Herries, the Native Land Amndment and Native Land Claims ■Adjustment Bill and West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Bill were read a second time (pro'forma).and referred to the Native Land Affairs Committee.

Hon. A. L. Herdm&n explained the amendments made in the Cook Islands Bill by the Legislative Council, which were agreed to. The amendments made in the Land Transfer Act Compilation Bill by' the Legislative Council were also agreed to. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Footwear Regulation Act Amendment Bill, which, he explained, in no way interfered with the original Act, but comprised a number of amendments' necessary to make the original Aet more effective. The Bill was read a second , time without discussion. Hon. W. Fraser moved the second read-; ing of tho Hiiiers Phthisis BIS. THE BUDGET. In moving that the House go into Committee of Ways and Means to consider 'certain resolutions, preparatory to the introduction of the Finance Bill, Sir J.! Ward explained that certain modifications were now proposed on proposals made in the Budget. In the first place, it was .proposed to increase the tax on mortgages by %d, making the tax Id in the £, this will mean an increased amount of £60,000, Tho Bill makes adjustment of taxation on mortgagees, who now escape the increase in the shape of war taxation. The increase will be in the direction of income tar, after deducting the amount paid on mortgages by way of land tax. - The alteration will ensure payment of income tax upon receipts over and above what amount will be taxable under the old mortgage system. It is estimated this alteration will yield an additional revenue of about £30,000. On beer is an increased rate which will yield, roughly, ' £20,000, making the amount now payable in additional beer duties between £70,000" and £BO,OOO. The Budget proposals of taxation upon motor oils, kerosene, and petrol .are removed. This includes all motor spirits. Telephone bureau fees will not be doubled, as proposed, but will remain at 3d. The proposed duty on nonalcoholic beverages will not be imposed this year, but a Commissioner will be appointed to go into the whole question of how the revenue from this source may be collected. Remissions will be made as follows:

Patrol and Kerosene 194,000 Bureau charges 20,000 Non-alcoholic beverages ... 20,000 He was aIBO of opinion that lie overestimated the revenue from the farmers' income tax, and this estimate was now reduced by £BO,OOO. These reductions totalled £314,000. This he proposed to make up by the following additions: '£ One per cent primage duty on imports, valued at twenty millions 200,000 Mortgage tax 65,000 Income tax on mortgagees 30,000 Beer duty 7*. 15,000 A total of £310,000 The altered taxation would yield the equivalent of the first Budget proposals, the whole amounting to about two millions. The land and income tax proposals of the Budget will stand. He asked that the Finance Bill be put through all stages. The resolutions were adopted. In the evening, on the motion that urgency be given tho Finance Bill, Mr. McCombs protested against the passage of a Bill of such importance without members having had an opportunity to study its contents. Mr. Pearce asked if the Government would be satisfied with the second reading only that night.

The Premier said the country wanted the measure, and it was necessary in the public interest.

j Sir J. G. Ward said the House had already approved that two millions of increased taxation must be provided. Hi? duty that night was to explain how that proposed taxation was intended to be raised. Members must recognise that sacrifices must be made if we were to do our share in the great war. Sir Joseph then went through the various clauses in the Bill, the provisions of which gave effect to the proposals in the Budget, plus the new proposals outlined at the afternoon sitting. At the tonelusion of his address Sir J. U. Ward thanked members lor listening so carefully to his explanation. He would be pleased to give any further information in committee. Mr. T. Sidey congratulated the Minister upon the comprehensive nature of tho Bill.

| Mr. Pearce said lie was pleased that the suggested duty on kerosene had been withdrawn; lie would have preferred a direct duty on some article to the proposed primage duty, and he intended to propose a heavier tax on beer, Mr. McCombe commented on the fact that the National Government had suggested such a large amount of increased indirect taxation, which must result in a further advance in tho cost of Hvin". Ho considered there should have been further additions to the land and income tax. Mr. Nosworthy said that iu tins proposed taxation the working people of the dominion had got off lighter than any other class. He quoted from the British Budget to show how the new taxation had affected the Home working man, and he contended that the eitv lands should have been included in the increased land taxation. He advocated a further increase in the beer tax. Mr. Isltt said that the city man had to bear his full share of general taxation. w« aoatsndsd that tbt ciy that

the farmer had to carry most t&X&i tion was all "piffle." He welcomed j&4 proposal to tax beer according to alcoholic fltrengtu. Mr. Hine moveil an amendment vrits a view of iucreasing the tax on hMU and relieving the primage duty igr, tbg •mount provided by such incnase, Mr. Webb urged, as a protection td[ the coal mining- industry, a duty on inH ported coal, which would stodvcfll * £50,000. He expressed disappointnianfe ■■ that more had not been fron* "profit-mongers," who were exploiting the people. Mr. Wilkinson urged the Govenunsn& •' to cut down expenditure, so as tp «ff«tOo all economies possible. 1 J Sir J. (I. Ward, (peaking <■ amendment, said the National Qofltaj. ' went had a very difficult talk to MR '*'! form. The proposals of the OftbUMll were distinctly favorable to the WJ9b( ers. He complained that the QwerK ment was 'being misrepresented ooigidl '' the House, so as to prejudice a otHpdf ' section against the proposals jfa W ,• Bill. He distinctly denied that WOtkxct ■■ were being unduly taxed. He caatffst? !• ed the changes proposed with enacted by the Home Government, M*- ' claimed that the spirit which prqgqrtw the formation of the National OoiMbt " ment should prevent the Bill beiag d* layed by the introduction of aide iIMMk He denied that the primage duty ipn ptesa heavily upon the eounmkifc •H quoted illustrations in rapport of Ul ' contention. Referring to thk CBNOW ; ment, he said it proposed to put JBIMKj of revenue from beer is place ot flflWW , ' of other revenue. No single pdfllwl - party could have hoped to cany • wMj. Budget through. Menders slight MM nise ibis, and defer the voifliig Of jw* ' ferences until a more mitaUe owaitfMa 'Mr. Payne said he reeagntod thlitwt ; Budget represented ah atteufpt to phy - vide extra taxation without making Mq. a tion unduly oppreisive on afcjt (Left sitting,)