PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. «y Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Animals Protection Amendment Bill was received from the House and read a first time. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, referring briefly to the proposal to put a super tax on unimproved land, and to a clause which authorised the., recovery of a tax in respect of the deduction allowed for tho depreciation of assets sold at an enhanced price. He said that possibly tho clause providing that for the purpose of income tax two or more companies with substantially the same shareholders may be located as one company, might have to bo strengthened next year. He felt that muck taxation was being evaded by the formation for that purpose of subsidiary company. The clause making local bodies an agent of debenture holders in respect to the payment of income tax was a good one, and would result in local body loans being more attractive to investors.

j The Hon. J. Ban- feared that the proi posal to make local bodies responsible for | the collection of the tax on debentures j would injure .the prospects of local bodies [when they went in the loan market. | The Hon, Sir J. R. Sinclair said the | fear on the part of local bodies had ; been allayed by explanations. ! The Hon. P. J. Nerheny said the fears of tho Auckland City Council had not been allayed, for many of its debenture holders wero people of small means, who would have to go to lawyers to make ! out returns. Therefore, what they saved in' taxation would go to lawyers, and that would result in those people investing elsewhere. Sir Francis Bell said that he thought Messrs. Ban- and Nerheny were thinking of the Bill as originally introduced, but he was able to assure'them that so far as the money that counted in local bodies' loans—namely, that of insurance companies, ct<y—was concerned, there was an extra inducement to invest. Such investors now had a definite rate to pay lower'than would have to be paid under ordinary income tax. The object of the legislation, it was true, had been in the past to make the holders of the bearer coupons pay tax, but more particularly to encourage large investors to place money in local body loans. That would be a direct loss to the Government, and a benefit to local authorities. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Master and Apprentices Bill was comimtteed, when a new clause was added to increase the penalty for an employer who ill-treats an apprentice, or fails to instruct, him. from £lO to £SO.

The Bill was reported with this amendment, read ,a .third time, and passed. The Council rose at 4.5 p.m. > HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. CONDEMNED MEAT. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. G. Witty (Riccarlon), Mr. Massey said ho was inclined to think there was some exaggeration regarding the reported deterioration of meat being shipped on the White Star liner Runic. He was having inquiries made. PUKEMIRO STRIKE. Replying to Mr. V. H. Potter (Roski|l), Mr. Massey said he did not think a settlement of the strike at the Pukemiro mine was impossible. A little sweet reasonableness on both sides should be sufficient to bring about a settlement, and lie hoped that a settlement would be effected without delay. PRINTERS' AWARD Replying to Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), the Hon. Sir William Herries said the award recently made in the printing trade would be issued tomorrow. GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE. Replying to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East), Mr. Massey said money was required for more urgent purposes than acquiring a residence for the Gover-nor-Gentral in Christchurch. HOME SERVICE MEN. Replying to Mr. H, Atroore (Nelson), the Premier said he was not yet able to make a statement regarding the Government's intentions towards home service men.

THE COUNTIES BILL. THE SYSTEM OF FRANCHISE. The House went into committee on the Counties Bill, which is largely of a consolidating nature. At clause -11, which leaves the county franchise as at present, Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) proposed to strike the clause out with a view to substituting a franchise similar to that enjoyed in munieipalties. Supporters of the amendment argued in favor of the principle of one man one vote, and its opponents contended it would be unsafe to give the "floating population" a right to vote on loan proposals. Mr. Wilford contended that tho amendment did "nol give the right to vote for loans. That right was restricted to ratepayers. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said that an alteration of franchise had never been considered by the committee which revised the Bill. lie therefore moved to report progress and order that the Bill might be a recommendation that the Parliamentary franchise might be substituted for the. present county franchise. This proposal was defeated on a division by 54 votes to 7. At 10.40 a.m. a division was takon on Mr. Wilford's amendment,, which was rejected by 37 votes to 21. On the 'suggestion of Mr. 0. Hawken (Egmqnt), the Hon. G. J. Anderson agreed to refer the question of providing arbitration to settle disputes between ridings of counties to the law draftsman, arujl if a suitable clause could be drafted ht would bo inserted in the Legislative "Council. Tho Ti\\l was then reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. \ -The Houie rose at 11.38 p.m.