PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A SHORT SITTING. REBATE ON LAND TAX. By Telegraph—Press AssodMloa. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr. Massey said he was not aware that the Land Tax Department was allowing the rebate on land tax before the Bill had been., passed, permitting such a rebate. If they were doing so he did not regard such action as serious; it only went to show that the department had confidence in the wisdom of the step proposed, which he knew had been most cordially received in all parts of the Dominion. Replying to Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said only in two cases had applications been received from limbless soldiers for free passes on the railways, and in both cases passes had been granted. LOCAL BODY LOANS. QUESTION OF GUARANTIEE. By Governor-General’s message an amendment to the Local Bodies Loans Act was introduced. The Hon. W. DoWnie Stewart explained that while the Government might guarantee local body loans there was some doubt us to the position of the guarantee if only a portion of a loan was raised, and the amendment was intended to make that position secure The Southland Electric Power Board's loan was a case in point. Mr. Wilford protested against the introduction of legislation of this kind in this way. It was not fair to members. They could not possibly look Into it properly or compare it with the original Act. The Opposition had no • power to do anything in the House, but members on his side of the House were at least entitled to a fair opportunity to consider legislation.

Mr. Massey said the Government was merely following a practice which had been followed for many years past by previous Governments. The Southland Electric Power Board had raised only £750,000 of their loan of £1,500.000, and the legal question had been raised whether the Government guarantee, which was given to the larger sum, would apply with equal force to the smaller sum. This amendment was intended to make it clear that this would be so. This amendment would also be useful to 'enable the Government to guarantee portions of loans for the purposes of which they were approved, while they would not guarantee portions of loans for the purposes of which they did not approve There was some idea on the part of local bodies that the Government would guarantee every loan, but this was not so, and when in England he had been informed by leading financial authorities there that it the Government attempted to guarantee every loan it would seriously affect the Dominion’s credit. He realised that this might be so, and he had promised that before the Government guaranteed further loans he would consult the London financial authorities. The amendment was passed through all stages as a matter of urgency. TAX ON ORCHARDS. OLD MEASURE REVIVED. The Orchard Tax Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. The Hon. W. Nos wort by said it was intended to re-enact the Act of 1916 tor a period of five years. The tax amounted to a shilling per acre, with a minimum of 2/6. The total tax dfciounted to between £15,000 and £16,000, which went to the Fruit Growers’ Federation to assist them in their work. Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) urged the need of keeping keen supervision over small orchards, for it was no use one man keeping his orchard clean while another man took no trouble to get rid of the various posts fruit was heir to. He thought the penalties for failing to keep orchards clean should be increased. He also thought the Government should in some way encourage and assist in spraying small orchards. Other members spoke favorably of the Bill, which was read a first time. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.