PARLIAMENT.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.K0 p.m. XUe (Jouuuil agreed to a conference with malingers ot the House of Kepreseutatives »u tin; .Military Service jjiii. The lions, fair F, Bell, U. Samuel ami U. Morgan were appointed managers on behalf of the Council. The following local Bills were received from the House of Representatives and read a tirst time: Auckland Harbor Board Empowering, Wanganui Borough Council Street Aces? Empowering Amendment, City of Nelson Loan Conversion and Empowering' Amendment. A motion of condolence with the speaker and his family on the death of his youngest son at th.- war was passed, on the motion of Hon. Sir F. Bell, seconded by Hon. J. D. Ormond, The Council then adjourned as a. marl; of respect. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The House met at 2.30. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Sir Joseph Ward laid on the table the annual statement concerning the public building? of the Dominion, which raised a lengthy discussion on the inadequate accommodation at the Cbristchureli, Timaru and Dunedin post offices. Several members contended that tha work on Parliament buildings should be stopped, or at least delayed, and the money expended on roads in the backblocks. ■ Hon. W. Fraser, in reply, said the whole delay in the erection of Parliament buildings was due to the difficulty in getting marble. Delay had also' pcciirred in getting steel for the construction of the roof. He intended to complete the building in accordance with :he original design, so that it would be a credit to all concerned. Sir Joseph Ward, referring to applications for expenditure on post offices, said it was recognised that during the war expenditure on buildings must be limited. There was no intention on the past of the Government to go in for a building programme at the present time. The total amount paid for office accommodation at Wellington amounted to £SSOO, not £IO,OOO, as had been stated. The paper was ordered to be printed. , EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30, when Mr. Anstey continued the debate on tile second reading of the Finance Bill. He thought the House was entitled to a fuller explanation than the Finance Minister had given them as to 'the reason why four millions more than the amount stated in the Budget, was required. He favored the exemption being reduced to £2OO. Referring to ''excess profits," he regretted the term "war profits" had been eliminated. He had not met a single farmer who objected to pay his share of the necessary taxation, while he was sure some, who ought to bear their share of taxation, would escape. Too much power was left in the hands of the Commissioner, and he thought it advisable to provide for an Appeal Board. The Dominion was highly .prosperous, and the present was a good time to enact taxation. Dr. Newman said the finance proposals were calculated to cause consternation. He thought the Finance Minister would have 'been wisely advised had the proposals been first submitted to the Public Accounts Committee. He criticised adversely several features of the Bill and contended that a number of the smaller men of the Dominion were unfairly taxed when compared with tinrich men. He pointed wt that vomig lawyers, doctor.-- and olhers of that, class would be unfairly (axed. He also favored the appointment of a Hoard of Appeal, and pointed out (hut the taxation was generally on thrift, while he enn. sidered it should be levied nu luxuries. It was a matter for regret that no attempt had been made to pay o(T any indebtness. although money was being accumulated as a. reserve in London, especially when we bad had two yea'-* of unexampled prosperity. He eontended that ton much money was liein" raided for public works. Tn England, people were constantly being advised to economise, while we were making no provision for the rainy day that must inevitably follow on the war Mr, Sid. v sai dtlmt had (he Government iidnpt-d a bold policy (hey would have eomm.iiideered the iiri'unry produets, but as (his policy had not been carried tut export duties should have been imposed. Mr Nos-vorthy contended that gradimthins of income-tax, over 1 C-WI should hive been 'nrjoly increased. He amued that voluntary taxation, such as on amuse uonts anil beer should have been utilised. The .Dominion had a heavy loan of taxation to carry, but he thought that if its affairs were administered with cave and prudence it could be carried. M.\ Payne commented on the fact that, there was lying at the banks over twenty millions which was not paying interest, the Ins sto the owners being about oni! million. Mr. Han is argued In favor of differentation for taxation urpos.es between earned and unearned incomes, and' stressed himself in favor of lowering the amount of the exemption under the income tax. He thought tlie proposals for the taxation of excess profits were wrong, the levy should be on war profits. He approved of the war bonus to civil servants, but onlv on incomes up to £2OO. Mr. Isitt urged the taxation of amusements, as it would check waste and encourage thrift. Mr. Glover favored an export duty on wood, meat, cheese and other products. The debate was adjourned and tile House rose at 11.20.
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Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1916, Page 4
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879PARLIAMENT. Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1916, Page 4
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