PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (PATRIOTIC FUNDS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. A, T. Maginnity asked a question as to whether the time had not arrived for the transfer of all war funds in the hands of trustees to the National War Funds Council, fie also desired to know if the information required by the Act had been supplied to the Ministei, and if these funds had been audited as required by the Act. Hon. Sir F. H. D. Bell replied to the first question in the negative. As to the second query, he stated that over 300 societies had supplied the information required, but about 100 had not done so. With regard to the third question, about 400 balance-sheets had been received and would be laid before Parliament. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. The Council resumed, in committee, the consideration of the Military Service Bill. Hon. Sir Francis Bell moved the insertion of a new clause providing for attestation by members of the Expeditionary Force. It wag explained that tlie obtuse was of a machinery nature. Hon. .1. Barr pointed out that this was another case of handing over power to the Governor-in-Council, which was necessary, perhaps, in these times of exceptional difficulty. The clause was added to the Bill. A formal amendment wa9 made in clause 18, and the Bill was reported. LAND FOR SOLDIERS. Hon. Sir F. Bell moved the second reading of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Bill. He briefly explained the provisions of the Bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives. Several speakers approved of the Bill, but advised care in the selection of land. Hon. G. Jones thought the time had arrived when it was impossible for meiA to make a living out of resumed land. Hon. J. T. Paul said he did not believe in the "wet nursing" of soldiers, but they must be put in the way of making a living. The second reading was carried, and the Council rose at 4.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING, The House met at 2.30 p.m. The chairman of the M to Z Petitions Committee asked leave for the committee to sit luring the afternoon, in order to take evidence on petitions praying for the closing of hotels at six o'clock. —Permission was granted. The 'Premier said he understood the Government was being blamed for inaction in connection with these petitions, and he would like to point out that not a single petition bad reached the Government. They were addressed to the House, and under the standing orders liad to go to the Petitions Committee, which was now taking evidence thereon. The War Regulations Bill was being kept back by the Government to enable this committee to report on the evidence, so the sooner they completed their investigation the better the Government would like it.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr. J. C. Thomson (Wallace), Die Minister of Defence said lie had no information regarding the health of the troops on the' YVillochra, which left here «i month ago, nor could he understand Uow anyone else could have any information on the subject. He was therefore not disposed to credit any rumor that the Health of the troops was bad. He jtrongly deprecated such rumors, and trusted they would be taken at their true value, AMERICAN MEAT TRUST. In reply to Mr. Wilford, the Preraiei said he had no information regarding the operation of the American Meat Trust in Taranaki He desired to say however, that every pound of meat exported from the Dominion went to the Imperial authorities, and what was suit, able went to the Army, the balance be ing disposed oi in London by the; Board of Trade. He had been giving close attention to this question, for some months, and he understood that, up to January, there had been no profit on the Imperial Government's transaction. Hf thought that since then there must have been a profit. These profits belonged to the Board of Trade, which was ai Imperial department, and, in his opinion, this Department had treated New Zealand very well indeed. PUBLISHING DETAILS OF WOUNDS. Replying to Mr. Isitt, the Minister oi Defence said the publication of details of wounds from which soldiers were suffering was a concession to public enquiry, but if it was distressing to friends of tiie wounded men the practice would be stopped for the future, and the particulars would be sent to the friends privately. CABLE PIFFLE. Mr. Wilford asked if the Premier would convey to the authorities that the piffle cabled out regarding the An?acs and appearing in the morning papers, was not the kind of stuff we wanted. It was simply nauseating, and he liopec the iPremier would make a dignified protest against such class of news being sent out. The Premier replied that lie would look into the cables in question. He was satisfied that a lot of the news cabled out was unworthy of appearing in print and lie would see if it was possible to take any action. HELP FOR WORKING WOMEN. Mr. Jennings (Tauniarunui) asked for an assurance by the Premier that the wives of Crown tenants who had gont to the front were receiving the remission of rent their husbands would have been' entitled to had they remained in the Dominion. The Premier replied that he would see that the remission of rent was made in such cases till the end of the year. LAND AND INCOME TAX,, BILL, The House went into committee on the Land and Income Tax Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said tlmt in the endeavor to give effect to the proposal to abolish tho mortgage tax. it was cleat the Bill had further than in-

tended. Farmery would not Tsceive tb'Jf concessions under the new scheme thej! now enjoyed, because they would not lto able to deduct from the land-tux the 'Mount of their mortgages. It seemed impossible to give then) that right il tlie mortgage tax were abolished. He, therefore, proposed to reinstate the right to deduct mortgages, but, if that w»» done, the mortgage tax must also be restored. He also proposed to ask the House to hold over several tfther dauaei for further consideration. The House rose at 5.3 ft p.nf. EVENING SITTING. _ After the dinner adjournment Bfflf' sidcration of the Land and Income-Tag Bill, in committee, was resumed. The debate on the short title was continued, a number of speakers taking advantage of the opportunity provided to refer to matters of taxation nnd finance. Sir Joseph Ward replied to somo of tha objections raised, on the lines of his explanation in the afternoon. there must be no doubt abo'lit future finance, the mortgage tax mult I>e reinstated. Mr. Wilford pointed out that the House was discussing the Bill in the committee stage, while twenty clauses had still to be -uhstituted for twenty which had been withdrawn. He suggested the Bill should be held ovev and the taxing bills be brought down •' together, The debate was still proceeding when the House rose for the supper adjournment. At twenty minutes to eleven, the short title was passed, and Haines of the Bill to R5 were passed, with the cjtc.ption of clauses postponed by the Minister, with hut little comment! A division was called for by Mr. Payne on sub-section E of Clause 85. with a view to removing the income of the New Zealand Mining or Scheelits Company from the list of exemptions. This was lost by 40 to 0. Mr. Payne moved a further amendment to strike out the word "mining" at the end of sub-section E, but this was defeated by 35 to 10. The clause was passed. The remainder of the clauses vers passed without comment. Progress jvas reported and the House rose at 12.15 a.m.