PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

iIILITAEY SERVICE BILU

By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night, The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Military Service Bill, as reported from the Statutes Revision Committee, was considered in committee. An amendment raising the age from 20 to Srlj proposed by Hon. W. Earnshaw, was rejected on division, by 1!) to 3. Hon. W. T. George moved to omit the clause making men married since May, 1915, eligible. Lost on the voices. An amendment by Hon. .1. T. Paul providing that a man punished for failing to register should not be handed over to the military authorities for service abroad, was rejected.

Clause Ifi, dealing with the right of appeal and with the religious objector, wan postponed. A new clause, providing for the. conetitution of a final appeal board was passed on a division, by 18 to 4. A new clause dealing with the nature of the work to be required from persons exempted from military service was postponed, the remainder of th'e clauses being passed with minor amendments. Progress was reported and the Council rose at 4.4S p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE TARANAK'I SWISS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, the Premier said he had not seen any reference in the public press tp pro-German demonstrations in Taranaki by people of Swiss nationality. Ho would have »n enquiry made by the police, but it went without saving that the Government would not tolerate any anti-British demonstrations by people of any nation< ality in this Dominion. ■BOARD OF TRADE. Replying to Mr. C. IT. Poole, tlie Premier said it was his intention to lay before Parliament interim reports of the Board of Trade. LABOR DEPARTMENT. The Premier laid on the table the report fif the Labor Department. Discussion thereon was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. LAND AND INCOME-TAX BILL. When the Houso resumed the Land and Income-tax Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, and read a firat time.

Sir Joseph Ward explained that the Bill was in the nature of a consolidat'tn:; measure. Probably only fourteen < • fifteen clauses were new. He explained the changes involved in part five. Th s income of a New 'Teniand conmi> ' whose sole or princin..! business is th . of gold mining was exempted from tn ■ ation. Clause !)2 provides Kor the a • portionment in cases where income \vm derived partly in New Zealand and partly elsewhere. The next clause provides that income not derived from New Zealand is exempt if chargeable with tax in other parts of the British Dominions. In the ease of banking companies, income was exempted by the Lopiu, Amendment Act, 1015. It is provided that unpaid tax after three months shall be surcharged twelve and a half per cent., after six months, fifteen per cent. Provision is made for the payment of treble tax as a penalty for evasion of ta.v. 1Ii l moved the second reading. Mr; Wilfrod protested against such '(.n important Bill being placed before the | House when members had not had time to intelligently master the details. Mr. l'earcc agreed, and cited clauses in the Bill which required amendment. Messrs. Wity, McConibs, and Dr. Newman favored the idea of a postponement of the debate.

Mr. Forbes argued that there was urgont need for the revision of the whole incidence of taxation, particularly that of the graduated land tax, with a view of the bursting up of large estates. Messrs. Buddo, Newman (Rangitikei), and Anstcy supported Mr. Forbes' view. Mr. l'ayne said the time had arrived, when the evasion of the payment of in-come-tax should be punished by imprisonment. . He considered there should be no exemption from income-tax. Mr. Young contended that objectors should have representation 011 the assoment courts. He also pointed out that no exemption was allowed under the. Bill for payment of mortgage on or. diimry land tax. Sir Joseph Ward regretted tlmt the time ;or the consideration of tha Jtiil was limited but it was necessary this Bill should precede war taxation. The Bill was mainly a consolidating measure. 110 attempt being "made to reconstruct the whole system of taxation. He contended that nothing in the Bill was detriments! to the Government Life Insnr-iui-c Department. With regard to the allegations about the taxation Vf farmers on their debts through mortgages. this was unavoidable, and had to be continued. He denied there was any intention to penalise the farmers by double payment, and Hit id the Government could not be expected to give credit on taxation for amounts contributed to war funds. Tile Bill was read a second time. The House rose at 11.45 p.m.