PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.~-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Council to-day the River Boards Amendment Bill was received with amendments, and on the motion of the leader it was decided to deal with the measure in committee to-morrow. The Revocation of Naturalisation Bill was read a aecond time, and will also be committed to-morrow. Tho Council adjourned at 2.48 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. KERB LY A VESSEL'S BUNKERS. Replying to Mr. Poole, the Minister for Marine said it was true a vessel arrived at Auckland last month with a fire m her bunkers. A careful preliminary inquiry was held, the evidence showing tnat the fire was duo to spontaneous comoustion, originating amongst coal shipped either in the United Kingdom or the United States. The origin of the fire wus so obvious that it was not considered necessary to hold a magisterial inquiry. SECOND READINGS. _ Hon. D. Buddo moved the second reading of the Waimakariri Harbor District and Empowering Amendment Bill, the provisions of which he explained. After a brief discussion the Bill was read a second time. The Wellington City Trading Department's Reserve and Renewal Funds Bill (Mr. Wright) was read a recond time without debate. BILL.

Sir Joseph Ward moved the third reading- of the Finance Bill. He 1' -'iked the House for the favorable given to so complicated a measure, and said he was extremely pleased with the shape id which it emerged from committee. Ho proposed to have the Bill held over for a few days before it went 'to the Legislative Council, so that certain phases' of the measure might bu brought under review, but it must be understood that this would not apply to the principles underlying the Bill. There had been considerable discussion on the question of the tea tax, but lie would like to assure the House that was not the only point he had been compelled to oppose. The total concessions which he felt -it his duty to resist amounted altogether to £1,849,000. It must be remembered this was mar legislation, and we were not entirely masters of our own requirements. There could be no uncertainty in our position. We must be sure .of our ground. We must be able to do what was required of us in the matter of finding the money necessary to send men to the front and to equip them when there. There were many provisions in this Bill which had never'been submitted to any Government, and would never be sanctioned by any Parliament in normal times. There had been criticism of some of his proposals, and other forms of taxation had been suggested, but he warned the House it was not possible f or a Minister to drop one set of taxes and adopt others in the midst of a crisis. The most feasible suggestion in this direction made during the debate was the resumption of the profits tax, but thai, was impossible if the Bill was to be adopted. It was no use saying Australia had a profits tax, because the conditions were altogether different. His financo :wtas based on the land tax and income tax, and if a profits tax were superimposed on these, then a right away reduction would have to be made in the land and income tax, because, to a great extent, the same people would have to pay all three taxes, which would be beyond their means. The fundamental basis of our finance must be a strong one, and he asked members to remember the herculean task the country had to face in finding money for pensions. We cannot, he said, afford to have anything in the shape of sentimentalism in finding the money for war finance) which must toe on a basis that means strength to the wholo of the population. The finance of New Zealand was on the strongest basis of any country engaged in the war, and it must be so, owing to our distance from the great markets of the world, and wo shall be the first country to feel the pinch which will arise from the shortage of shipping and other causes beyond our control. On tho subject of the war loan, Sir. Joseph expressed tho opinion, that experience would go in the direction of raising all our loans locally for many years to come. He was not yet in a position to say how much the loan realised, but ho was especially pleased with tho large number of persons iwho subscribed sums of £IOO up to £IOOO. This was quite remarkable, and it was a most encouraging sign to find the loan spread over such a large number of people. Mr. Hornsby said that in view of the "fact that both parties were pledged to reduce, tho cost of living, the Government, having introduced a measure directly violating this pledge, tho treaty made at tho time the National Cabinet was formed was now abrogated. Ho therefore desired to say he could no longer bo regarded as a supporter of the National Government. Mr. Hudson said ho was not in favor of the tea tax, but supported the Bill as it stood because ho considered himself bound to support the National Government. The House adjourned at 5.30. On the House resuming, Mr. Me€ombs continued the debate on the third reading of tho Knancc Bill. Mr. Ell contended it would be grossly unfair to pay the whole cost of the war out of* revenue. The Government had been criticised regarding tho cost of living, but, while all had not, been done that might have been done, tho broad ■fact remained that the cost of living was lower in New Zealand than in almost every other country in the world. Mr. Hindmarsh urged the Prime Minister to do something to cheapen the cost of living to the mass of the people. It was the duty of the Liberal members of . the Cabinet to preserve the traditions of ' the Liberal party, and not to allow them- , selves to be overridden by the Reform , section. Hon. W. D. 8, Macdonald, in reply to . the remark made by Mr. Hindmarsh, denied that he had been thrust aside by the Prime Minister or any other Minister. Ho still held the portfolios given him when the National Government was ; formed. He also denied that the Gov- i eminent had tried to extract the last ; farthing from the British public. All they • had asked for was to be put on the soma ( footing as the other Dominions. < The 'Prime Minister said the Board of ( Trade was comprised of good, hard- t working men, who had done their bftsi (

to perform the duties placed onvtheS , shoulders.. They heardl a goodi deal, about jthe- cost of living.. If any member.'could 'make- suggestions io hint or tHfr Bt&td lof Trnde regard ■''■ profiteering,, which coul'd be proved, tin: Government would put the law in motion. '. Mr. Masscy proceeded to, defend? theI tax on tea. The increased' pensions would cost three time* the amount that would > derived from this- tax. Ha did not* the working classes .objected" to' contribute their share of the. cost of thft war: The Prime Minister went on to state facts to show the good work d»n» by the Board of Trade. Referring to the shipping problem, he- said that within the next few days, the firat New Zea-land-controlled ship would sail' from on« of our principal ports, loaded to> the hatches with New Zealand produce. It , would be followed by another at an early date. This was done to asSis* tho prov duccrs. The Government had not bought the ship, but controlled it. The enormous figures provided for in the Finanoo Bill would indicate the extreme eeriouirness of the position. Judging by t&o outlook, if the war continued fop any length of time, arid if we are to meet our financial responsibilities, our exports must be kept up to not lean than £30,000,000. To do this, all the „ and enterprise of which the peopfe were capable would be required. The Goternment did Bot intend to go in for id system of compulsory industrial service, but believed the people would do what was required of them, and, if th» need arose, women would be able and willinff to give great assistance. Mr. Webb criticised the action of the Government in regard to the shipping problem, and the high prices ooWrad to Britain for our produce. He expressed surprise at the action of those Liberals who supported the iea tiu, Sir Joseph Ward) in reply, said If members opposed to the tea tax knew the astory of New Zealand politic, they would know that he was responsible' for putting tea on the free list,, and if they knew the facts, they would realise that lie now had a good reason for imposing this tax. The revenue must be had, and none of the proposals suggested during the debate would bring in anything like the revenue required. Motorcars had been suggested aa a fit subject' for further taxation, but the fact was last year only 1400 taxable i cars were imported, of an average *alue of £4OO, which would not bring in the neeessairy money, but would, in all probability, stop cars from coming into the country. So far as he could see, many member* talked without any sense of responsibility, but pandered to sections of the community in the hope that some day it would be of benefit to themselves. "Lord help the country when they get into power!" / At the conclusion of Sir Joseph Ward's speech the third reading was Cftrrl«d oft the voices, and the Bill passed "" : T'he House rose at 1.1.5.