PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. URGENT MEASURES PASSED. ADJOURNMENT FOR HOLIDAYS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Expiring Laws Continuance Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. Mr. Massey explained that it was not possible to deal finally with this measure before the adjournment of the House, because certain information required had not now come to hand, and therefore it was now proposed to extend the period of the existing Act until February 28 next. One of the principal clauses was one permitting an increase of the rate of interest to six per cent, on trust moneys which had been loaned at low rates. The Bill was read a second time and put through committee.

The following enactments are continued under the Bill: Monopoly Prevention Act, 1908, part I; Land Laws Amendment Act, 1914, sections 42 and 43; War Legislation Amendment Act, 1916, part I and subsection (1) of section 20; Finance Act, If 17, section 70; War Legislation Act, 1917, part IV; Finance Act, 1918, section 20; War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, section 13; Housing Act, 1919, section 56; Housing Amendment Act, 1920, sections 16 to 22; Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1921. The following enactments are repealed: Regulation of Trade and Commerce Amendment Act, 1915; War Legislation Act, 1917, section 21; War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, sections 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 22.

The Death Duties Amendment Bill was introduced. The Premier said the amendments were of a technical nature. The principal one fixed the date on which duties lx? come payable under the retrospective clause of the Bill—viz., one month after the donor of a gift ’.as been notified of the re-assessment of duty. Another amendment raises the amount of gift which must be notified from £lOO to £3OO. The amendments were agreed to. A Finance Bill was introduced by Gover-nor-General’s message, providing for the amendment of certain sections of the Finance , Bill No. 2. A new sub-clause is added to clause 17, providing that duty payable on stakes won at any race meeting at which the totalisator is not used shall not be affected by the increased taxation imposed in the recent legislation. The amendments were agreed to. All the Bills dealt with were sent to the Legislative Council, where they were passed without amendment. In moving the adjournment of the House till January 11, Mr. Massey expressed regret that he had to ask members to come back, but they all knew the business was not finished and duty came first. He wished members a pleasant Christmas and a prosperous New Year. The House rose at 12.37 a.m.