PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE CANTEEN FUNDS. LARGE SURPLUS IN HAND. By Teleffraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 pan. A brief statement regarding the New Zealand Expeditionary Force canteen and regimental funds was made by the Minister of Defence. Having explained that the fund has accumulated from the balances of a variety of funds, the Minister said an arrangement to pool funds was made, the only understanding being that the various regiments would be assisted from the funds in the compilation of their histories. Advances made for this purpose, however, are to be treated as loans, and are to be repaid from the proceeds of the sales of the histories. Apart from the writing of the histories, the policy of the present board was to preserve the funds for future use in the relief of distress among returned soldiers and the dependents of fallen soldiers.

The total Standing to the credit of the fund at September 30, 1921, was £109,524 16s 4d, with an approximate amount of £9OOO still to be transferred to the fund from the troopship canteen balances financed from the war expenses account. This approximate balance, added to the amount already in the account, makes a total of £118,524, after allowing for the amount already expended in the writing of histories, which to date totals £3623 8s 6d. Of the total fund £BO,OOO has now been invested in 6 per cent. . Government inscribed stock, and the remainder is earning interest at 4 per cent, under the terms of section 21 (2) of the Finance Act, 1920, and is at call at any time if it should be required. It was further pointed out by the Minister that the Government was one of the largest contributors to the fund, the amount expended up to March 31, 1921, being £189,278 13s 7d, and upon this sum no charge had been made against the fund by way of interest or overhead charges. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT LOAN. ENFORCING COMPULSION. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up with the discussion of papers and Ministers’ replies to questions. Minister gave, amongst others, the following answers to questions: That the amount of the last soldiers,’ settlement loan which remains unsubscribed is £1,392,000. All notices pnder the compulsory provisions of the Act had been issued by the Commissioner of Taxes. Owing to the financial depression some difficulty is being experienced by many taxpayers in finding the amount required, and it is, therefore, too soon to estimate the amount which will be finally realised. That an opportunity will be given members to discuss the matter of the salaries of members of Parliament and all civil servants, with a view to making a reduction, in order to reduce the ever-increasing cost of administration of all departments of State, when the Financial Statement is under consideration.

That it is hoped to introduce a compilation and a number of amendments of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act shortly, when the questions of the abolition of the Arbitration Act and preference to unionists can be discussed. THE LAND TAX. That it is feared it will not be possible to extend the time for the payment of land tax from November, 1921, till February, 1922. That the present is not considered an opportune time for procuring a dredge suitable for dredging small harbors. The cost of such a dredge would be considerable. That the legal charges in connection with the administration of estates by the Public Trust Office have not been increased. The rates of commission, however, have been revised, and anomalies reviewed, and at the same time the rates of interest allowed to estates have been increased, and the system generally relating to interest altered to the advantage of estates. That it is proposed at the next conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association to invite the cc •. ‘ration of practising members of the profession in obtaining a record of all factors, including local conditions, which may be expected to throw light upon the aetology of cancer. That it is the experience of the Government that it is impossible to build suitable houses, replete with modern requirements, on a basis of £lO deposit and 13s 9d per week, including principal, interest and insurance, but if any local authority desires to endeavor to do so they can borrow £5OOO per annum for. the purpose from the State Advances Department. WOOL PROFITS. That as a decision may not be reached by Parliament for some time it has been decided that licenses will be issued as in previous years to racing clubs previously holding them up till the end of January, 1922, and clubs affected may accordingly make their preparations. That further representations will be made to the Commonwealth Government on the subject of reciprocity with regard to pensions between Australia and the Dominion. That the question of reducing taxation is under consideration by the Government. That the Dominion’s share of profits arising from the re-sale of the first two wool clips (1916-17 and 1917-18) sold to the Imperial Government has already been distributed to growers. It will not be possible to ascertain what profits are available from the re-sale of the last two wool clips (1918-19 and 1919-20), which were the subject of a separate contract, until the wool has been disposed of At present there are over 700,000 bales still unsold, and the present market position is such that it is unlikely that the final liquidation of these two clips will leave any profit for New Zealand wool-growers. TARIFF RECIPROCITY. That representations made for an amendment of the law providing for the appointment of women justices of the peace are under the consideration of the Government. That the operation of the Australian tariff, as applied to exports from Now Zealand, has been fully considered in framing the new tariff, and the Bill to accompany the tariff. The Prime Minister for the Commonwealth of Australia has made it clear .that he is not prepared to begin anv direct for reciororitv with

New Zealnad until after the new Australian tariff becomes law. It is hoped that a schedule governing the selected list of items will then be agreed to and prepared during the coming recess for submission to Parliament. The House rose at 9.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.