PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph,—Press Association, _ Wellington, Last Night. The Council resumed this afternoon. Hon. Colonel Collins was granted leave of absence for the remainder of the session. The Council passed a motion expressing deep regret at the retirement from the Council of Sir Henry Miller, after fifty'years us a councillor. The Council adjourned until Wednesday next. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr. MeCallum, Sir jr. Allen said the term of enlistment in the Expeditionary Force was for the duration of the present war nnd for six months thereafter. It might be necessary to , extend the period of six months, as there might be some men who would not be able to return to New Zealand within that time. Replying to Mr. Brown, the Premier said lie had- not heard auvthing of the appointment of Mr. Malcolm Ross as military censor, and he did not believe Mr. Ross had besn so appointed. Leave of absence .was granted to Mr Webb (Grey). The Nelson Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Mr. Field) was introduced and read a first time. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up 'by members discussing Ministers' replies to questions answered two weeks ago, •Replying to questions to-day, Ministers said: That arrangements were 'being made by the Imperial Government for an exhaustive report on the mineral resources of every part of the Empire, New Zealand included, and an organisation had already been set up with that object in view. Thai the report df the Efficiency Board on the essential industries of the 'Dominion would be laid 'before Parliament as soon as. Cabinet had considered it. That the Imperial Government fully understands the position in New Zealand both from the point of view of reinforcements and 'food supplies. They also know that the people of this Dominion can be depended upon to leave nothing undone to assits in winning the war. The suggestion that because America had come into the war as an ally, and the Russians, under General Brusiloff, were now doing well, the Dominion' should relax its efforts, is not in keeping with the British Imperialistic spirit of the people of New Zealand. That the holding of the annual territorial ciuiTps is entirely dependent on tlie conditions obtaining in the Dominion in the early part of next year, and it is not considered advisable to discontinue the present parades. That there is no present intention of reducing the railway rates during the war. That it is proposed to introduce legislation this session extending the censorship to picture show posters and advertisements. That it is unlikely any revision of the Customs tariff will take place this session. That the standardisation of class books throughout the Dominion involves a change in the books mow in use in a large proportion of schools, and such -aterp is not regarded as desirable when

economy is imperative in so many homeA That it is not proposed this year t6 ask 'Parliament to vote « subsidy fop country libraries. The House resumed at 7.30. ADDRESS-IN-HBPLY. • The Hon. W, £l. S. M&oDonald con* tinued the debate on tlw Address-in.-fteply. He strongly deprecated the cry for the restriction of reinforcements, which he characterised as equivalent to hoisting the white flag and surrendering to the Hun. He said the Imperial authorities had purchased over £27,000.000 of our products. He detailed the shipping difficulties, and assured the House that the British Government was doing all in its power to assist the Dominions The shipping Question required the mosS careful willing n- tho present juncture, for the big <omlunes \vor>) riot always what they appeared to be. He thought public" opinion was rapidly swinging in the direction that direct State action must soon be applied, ai nothing was so important to the Dominions as the prompt and regular despatch of our products. Speaking ofwheat production he considered the Gov. ernment would be compelled to give more generous support to wheat growers. Australian harvests were not to be de' pended on, therefore it was better wo should pay a little more and be assured that we grow sufficient for our own requirements. He defended the imposition of the butterfat levy on the grounds that there was a distinct movement amongst butter producers to raise the price from 1/8 to 1/11 per lb, and it was not going to stay there. It was proposed to lift the levy on July 30, by which time they would have sufficient money in hand to give tho producers 1/77-Sd againstH/2 per lb in the pre-war time. No alternative had ever been suggested by the farmers. All they seemed to want was .to get tho maximum price, irrespective of public interests. He* ob-. jeeted to the statement that no other industry had been treated in the same way. The Government had purchased meat, wool, hides and skins, and had fixed a price which put just as big a tax on the producers of these products as the levy had put on the butter producers. The Board of Trade had regulated prices of coal, rents and meat. While the State butchers' shops in Auckland had been one of the board's greatest achievements. If it had not been for the Roard of Trade, flour would have been from :ClB to £2O a ton ere this. On the consumption of meat alone the efforts of the board had saved the people at least half a million. Mr Poland gave the Minister credit for a sincere desire to do something. This was more than the Board of Trade' ever did. Thcv only investigated, but never did anything. There ought, to have been a conscription of wealth. Young farmers were being exempted iby the courts because they were engaged in an essential industry, and no steps were taken by the Government to replace them and let. them go t to the front, while other people's sons were forced to go. He denounced the rate of pay and inequalities of pensions to soldiers, wMch must be revised.

Mr. Pearce agreed with the action of the Government in keeping down the price of butter to the consumer, but it was done in such a muddling way as to annoy all the producers. He wanted to know what policy the - Government proposed to adopt with regard to paying for the war and pensions. He advoeat'ed a local loan, and thought it should Tba floated as soon as possible. He was opposed to the excess profits tax as being a handicap on progress, and an export tax as unfair to producers. Taxation ought to be aimed at extravagancies, which the Government had done nothing to check. He favored an amusements tax, increased taxation on liquor, motor cars, drapery, tea, tobacco and cigarettes, but thought the income tax was the fairest way of arriving at an equality of sacrifice. He would support {ha early-closing of hotel bars, provided a clause was inserted in the Bill that the loss should fall qn the owners of licenses, but not necessarily on Jha occni pier. Anti-shouting was a farce, and. ha would support its repeal. Mr. Di\'on also spoke. The House rose at 11.15 p.m.