PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. 1 The House met at 2.30. WHEAT ACREAGE. , Replying to Mr. R (Newman, the Minister lor Agriculture stated that 179,1)01) acres had been sown in wheat in the South Islam!, and that possiblv there would be ijO.ooo additional put in durin" hie spring. I\> doubted if this would .bo sullitient to meet local ' The Government, however, was not urging farmers to sow wheat on unsuitable lands, winch could only result in disaster. It was quite true there was a big yield in Australia, hut there was great difficulty in getting grain shipped to New Zealand, therefore he considered it wise to grow as much wheat a s possible in tho Dominion. A NEW BILL. The Hutt Road Amendment Bill (Mr. Wright) introduced and read a first time. THE MISSING COPY OF BILL. Mr. McCombs stated that he told the Premier yesterday he would tell him today where he procured the amendment of tho Military .Service Act providing for the conscription of youths of nineteen years, referred to'by him in the House. A thousand copies of that amendment were printed yestcrdav in the. ChrUtchurch edition of" a New Zealand journal. Mr. Massey: What journal? Mr. McCombs: New Zealand Truth. He then proceeded to complain that the Premier yesterday had said that a copv of such amendment coulld .only have been procured in one way. and that way was a dishonorable one'.' To this he Strongly objected, and thought the Premier should withdraw the expression. Mr. Massoy said that at the time lie Bpoke he was under the impression Mr McCombs had a copy of the Bill in his possession. Had he known he was only reading an extract from a newspaper he would not have used the term coinplained of. WAR LOAN; SUBSCRIPTIONS. Sir Joseph Ward intimated he had been advised that the Union Steamship Company nad subscribed £250,000 to the War Loan, the National Mutual LifeAssociation had contributed £OO,OOO. 'FINANCE BILL. Mr. McCombs resumed the debate on the Finance Bill, contending that the conscription of wealth under the Bill was farcical as compared with the conscription of ilesh and blood under the Military Service Act. Mr. Payne considered the tea tax 'was wrong in principle, as it meant placing an extra burden on the producers. The ellect would probably be that the merchants would sell inferior grade tea at a higher price. Mr. Sykes put in a plea for more generous treatment for the men at the front, and for trading companies. Dr. Thacker said the Bill was the finest machine for getting money put up south of the line. He defended the compulsory clauses and asked that rigid precautions be taken to prevent the farms of soldiers falling into the hands of aliens. Mr. Craigie suggested a vigilance committee should go into the question of waste in the Government departments. Mr. Webb deprecated the agitation in favor of heavier taxation on mottl- care. He regretted that more drastic taxation was not imposed on land for the purpose" of bursting up large estates. The method for procuring land for soldiers by purchase was too slow and restricted in operation. Mr. Hindmarsh regretted that in dealing with the laud question the Government had not been sufficiently heroic. Mr. Ell opposed the taxation on tea. Mr. Wright contended the compulsory clauses, unless modified, would completely confiscate the whole of the dividends of small shareholders in many companies.

. Sir Joseph "Ward, in reply, said the debate had clearly demonstrated what all knew—that taxation was objectionable. It was not surprising that there should be misconceptions. For instance, there had been a proposal to revert to the old mortgage tax, but that was impossible if they were going to adopt a progressive land and income tax'. The two' things could not go together, and lie would have to abandon the main principle of his Bill if the old mortgage tax was restored. That was also impossible, because it was from the progressive land and income tax, plus the war tax, he proposed to get the revenue'-to carry on the Government of the country. Fe denied that the mortgage tax was a tax on debts and contended that the land tax,could not be collected if mortgages were allowed to go free. He was prepared in committee to accept an amendment in the direction of giving iiarried men greater exemption under the income tax, on the basis of the number of their children, and he also proposed to enlarge the Board of Appeal by associating other officers with the Commissioner of Taxes, lie was willing to change the taxation ,- on cigarettes if it was going to increase

the, revenue without increasing the cost to the public, and lie was now awaiting a report on the subject of the beer tax. If the present system of collecting the duty on specific gravity was riot satisfactory, then it could be changed, but, if bo, it would result in heavier beer being brewed, and this would be a mistake. Anyone who supposed the Government was shielding the brewers was mistaken, lie denied that he had, or ever had, an interest in any hotel or brewing concern. Tli" position of the life assurance companies as mentioned by Sir J. Findlay was being looked into, but it was not possible to give relief in all the directions asked for. Suggest'ona had been made to him by which be would have to forego £6311000 of revenue, but unless that amount could be got from somo ether source then what was asked for could not be done. He explained that the compulsory clauses were not intended to harass anyone but it, was a necessary precaution against financialt shirkers who. if they exist, could be dealt with. He was negotiating with the banks regarding an extension of the term in ■which jtln-y would lend to contributors to the loan, and he hoped to make a statement on Tuesday, it was no use members coining to him one day and asking for bonuses to the public service and similar concessions, and the. next day demanding that the Government should exercise thrift. It was equally futile for people to come to him telling him they would have to borrow money to pay the taxes. Many had to do that last year. What was being asked'of them was not much, seeing that, so far, wo in New Zealand had scarcely realised that a world war was raging. * The second leading was carried amidst applause. The House went into Committee of Supply ami passed the legislative class, and rose at 9.30 p.m.