PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A BRIEF SITTING. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Counici met at 2.30 p.m.

The Animals Protection and Game Bill and the Local Bodies’ Finance Bill were received from the House and read a first time. The Council rose at 2.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE VALUATION OF LAND. AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT. Thfe House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill, which he said dealt with the valuation of certain grounds used for recreation purposes, which in future would be valued on a basis of the purpose for which the land was used. The second portion of the Bill dealt with quite another matter. If an owner objected to his valuation and the Government was not able to take over his land the valuation wtas reduced. At present valuation took effect as from the succeeding March 31, but now it was proposed to take effect from the preceding March 31. 'Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) argued that this part of the Bill was a concession to owners of valuable land, and this was not a time when such epneession should be made.

The Hon. E. P. Lee contended that no such interpretation should be * put on the Bill. It was only an act of justice to land owners. The Bill did not alter by one iota the system of appealing against valuations. •Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) asked the Premier to say whether clause ’three remitted the amusement tax recentlv imposed upon sports bodies. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) suggested that there should be some general reduction in land values to meet the large drop in the prices of produce. Mr. W. El. Field (Otaki) thought the Valuer-General should be empowered to make a general re-adjustment in land valuations in conformity with the present prices of produce. The Premier, in reply, contrasted the demands being made to-day for revaluation for the purpose of securing a reduction with the demands made some years ago so that the State might secure increased increment. The Bd3l. did not in any way affect the amusement tax, which was quite foreign to the measure.

The second reading was agreed to. Later the Bill was passed through committee unamended, read a third time and passed.

SHARES IN ESTATES. A NEW PROVISION. The Hon. E. P. Lee moved the second reading of the Family Protection Amendment Bill, which he said removed the limit of time in which dependents might make application to tihe Court for a share in an estate if they consider insufficient provision has been made for them.

Mr. Wilford approved the Bill, but he said it did not go far enough. Power should be given to the Court to vary orders previously made if circumstances warranted.

The second reading was agreed to. There were no alterations in committee and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.47 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.