PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1915, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Council this afternoon, in answer to Hon. G. Carson, Hon. F. H. D. Ml said that he thought the Government would be pleased to have an opinion of the House and Library Committees on the propriety of extending to ex-members of the Legislature certain privileges of Parliament, namely the use of Bellamy's, of fie Library, and of seats behind the Chair while Parliament was sitting. The following Bills were read a second time: —Lights on Vehicles, State Advances Amendment, Factories Act Amendment, Military Manoeuvres, Census and Statistics Amendment Bills, reported from committee with two or three amendments, read a third time, and passed. .The Discharged Soldiers Settlement Bill was read » second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The War Funds Bill was considered in committee, when several amendments suggested by the Statutes Revision Committee were included in the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. Hon. Sir F. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Finance Bill He explained the purport and scope of the Bill. Hon. J. T. Paul thought the bulk of taxation should have come from those who had made huge profits out of the war. Too large a proportion of taxation was levied on the wage-earners. Hon. 0. Samuel said that for the first time they had in the Bill the elements of a graduated tax applied to revenue derived from mortgage. He questioned whether this was a wise step. He referred to one or two other matters which, ill his opinion, required consideration. He did not refer to the policy feature of the Bill, as he recognised that money for war purposes most be raised. Hods, H. F. Wigram and R, Moore also spoke. The Bill was reported from committee without amendment, read a third time, -and passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Wellington, September 28. To Mr. Oaigie, the Minister of Defence said it was not the practice to give wounded men is England their full pay. Pay that accumulates is given them when they leave the hospital. They are, however, provided with many comforts while in the institution. To Mr. Webb, the. Minister of Mines said that in view of numerous fataPaccidents which had recently taken place, investigations were being made of the quality of gelignite now in use. To Mr. Pearce, the Minister of Defence said he was asking the Imperial authorities whether they would permit the establishment of a canteen at the front, where our men might be supplied with their own meat and other comforts. To Mr. Isitt, the Minister said it was a misconception that the pay of wounded men was reduced while the men were in hospital. To Mr. Sykes, the Minister of Finance stated that a trade circular issued by the Continental Tyre Company had been sent out under authority of the Christchurch branch of the Public Trust Office. The Company was still under the control of the Public Trust. To Dr. Thacker, the Minister of Defence said that the "next-of-kin" was the relative named by a soldier in his record.