PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By Tejegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.. The House met at 2.30. NEW BILLS' The Shops and Offices Amendment Bill (Mr. Hindmarsh), was read a first time. The Maori War Medal Bill (Mr. Wright) was read a first time.

SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. The usual sessional committees were set up. Dr. Thacker protested against the constitution of the Lands Committee, there being too many Reform Torys on it. the proportion being nine to five. Mr. Guthrie explained that as only war legislation would be introduced this session he did not think it necessary to revise the constitution of any committee.

Mr. Wilford said It was customary to consult the Liberal Whip in the selection of the committees, but this year this had not been done, and he considered the course followed was most improper.

Mr. Guthrie replied that there was no party in the House now, so it was not necessary to consult the Liberal Whip. Mr. Jennings pointed out that while the greatest amount of land settlement was going on in the North Island, the Lands Committee, as proposed, had u majority of South Island members. That was not considering the best interests of the Dominion.

The Premier, in reply, said the motion had been before the House for several days, and not a single complaint had reached Ministers. Dr. Thacker: I asked you a question about it the other day, and yon said we were a happy family. Mr. Massey: So we are. Continuing, Mr. Massey said he regretted the Liberal Whip had not been consulted, but he was quite ready to meet the wishes of the House, and would add the name of Mr. Jennings to the committee. This was agreed to oh the voices. A further discussion took place on a similar point on the constitution of the Labor Bills Committee, Mr. Payne protesting that he was being deliberately kept off the committee on account of his attitude in the House. The committee remained unchanged. An additional committee was set up to take into consideration the position of the export meat trade with special regard to the operations of the American Meat Trust.

CENSUS AND ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. Hon. Q. W. Russell laid on the table of the House the result of the last census. Replying to Mr. Pearee, the (Premie* said commissions would be set up to define the electoral boundaries at an early date. Mr. Nosworthy suggested fliat the Premier should take some steps to see that greater regard was paid to the community of interest in defining electoral boundaries. Mr. Russell pointed out that the duties of the commissioners were statutory, and they were obliged to work to defined rules, and it was contrary to law that the Premier should interfere. ADDRESS IN REPLY.Mr. Sykes spoke in admiration of the manner in which farmers and land owners had responded to the call made upo> them by the war, both in men and money. He considered the Exceso iProfits Tax was right in principle, but in practice it proved unsuitable and unjust. Ho advocated an extension of the Craduated Income Tax as the fairest method of compelling wealtii to con tribute to the necessities of tne State. Discussing the settling of our soldiers, he doubted the ability of thw country to borrow sufficient land to satisfy all demands* He, therefore, endorsed the scheme framed by the conference of far ers at Marton. He opposed the Butter fat Tax, and favored six o'clock closing of hotel bars, but considered the loss should be equally borne by the occupiers of hotels and the owners of the licenses. > As to further reinforcements, he considered it our duty to hold on until w secured that victory welfcll so much dr sire, and our dead so much deserve.

Mr. Veitch could not understand the opposition to the Butterfat Tax. He considered the Minister only did his duty in preventing the price of butter soaring and the public being seriously exploited. He supported conscription. He felt that we were in the war, and there could, be no withdrawing. We must play our part towards the Empire to the bitter end. He favored an increase in the land tax, and making industry bear the cost of its own future development. Mr. Wright said he understood the National Government was unpopular throughout, the Dominion, but that was easily understood, because it had been compelled to tread on the corns of almost every section of the community. The Excess Profits Tax must be repealed. The allowances to the Second Division must be increased, and the pensions scheme generally reviewed. Those people who were unable to go to the front must realise that their share in the great conflict was to find money. He advocated six o'clock closing, urging the Government to ride boldly at the hurdle and avoid a compromise. Mr. Talbot censured the shipping merger, and declared that the manner in which the shipping companies had treated the farmers justified the latter in establishing their own shipping facilities. The operations of the meat trusts could not be circumvented by. farmers alone, and State action must be taken if both producers and consumers were not to be exploited. The reports of the Efficiency Board should be laid before Parliament without delay. Members Were to a great extent being treated as cyphers. He denounced the extravagance that was going on in the purchase of motor care and fur coats, and urged the Government to arrange taxation 80 as to check this expenditure on luxuries As to the cost Of the war, we should shoulder the responsibility ourselves by imposing adequate taxation rather than leave it to posterity, increased Income Tax and Graduated Land Tax were the most equitable methods of raising revenue. The House rose at 10.20 p.m.