PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PROGRESS OF BILLS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.3 Q p.m. The Workers’ Compensation Bill was reported by the Statutes Revision Committee. The committee amended the schedule in the direction of providing that in the case of domestic service compensation shall be payable only in cases where the period of employment is for not less than three days. Another amendment provides for compensation of 10 per cent, for loss of a big toe on either foot and 5 per cent, for lose of a toe other than a big toe. There were other amendmema of a minor character.

The Magistrate’s Court Bill was passed with amendments, one allowing a counter-claim to be filed and served at any time before the hearing of a civil action, and another giving the Court power to disallow the whole or any part of a claim for witnesses’ expenses. The Council decided not to insist upon its amendment to the Tongariro National Park Bill excluding the warden from the board. The Railways Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Stamp Duties Amendment Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Cemeteries Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Crimes Amendment Bill was passed. The Council adjourned at 5.10 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau), Mr. Massey said young men disqualified from voting because they shirked attendance at drill could only have their civil rights restored by an amendment’ of the law. Perhaps, on the recommendation of Cabinet, the Governor-General could be induced to remit part of the sentence, and deserving cases could be met in that way. He would look into the .matter.

In reply to Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton), Mr. Massey said that in the event of mercantile companies who were financing returned soldiers getting into financial difficulties being unable to carry soldiers on, the Government would do their best to meet the emergenoy.

Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said he hoped the boards inquiring into soldiers’ settlements would have reported long before twelve months.

Mr. G. Witty asked the Premier if. in the event of prohibition being carried, he would amend the law so as to afford lessees of hotel properties some release from their obligations. Mr. Massey said he realised the importance of the question. As he understood it many people were paying heavy rentals, and as the law now stood those rentals would continue after prohibition was carried. That, in his opinion, was grossly unfair when the lessees* means of living were taken away. The matter would have to be put right by Parliament. Further amendments to the “Wasn-ing-up” Bill were introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time.

THE iINANOE BILL. SOME IMPORTANT PROVISIONS. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Finance Bill. He said there was no one principle running through the Bill, but it consisted of thirty-nine clauses, each dealing with a separate subject, all of which were of a machinery nature. He explained the purpose of the individual clauses.

Mr. Wilford objected to Clause 4, which he said would enable a holder of inscribed stock to escape the graduated tax by transferring stock to a minor. He also objected to Clause 5 as being a roundabout way of borrowing. Mr. Massey said it was borrowing,, but it was quite legitimate. It did not increase the public debt. Mr. Wilford contended it at anyrate created another authorisation. He objected to Clause 31, which made provision for the ultimate purchase of the Totara Timber Company’s railway, and he wished the Premier to say in reply whether this arrangement was being made at the request of the company or of the settlers. Clause 36 gave too great a power into the hands of the Valuer-General by altering valuations. It was a dangerous clause and he protested against it. Mr. Massey said the Bill would be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. With regard to provision for the blind, his difficulty was to find money for all the pensions, which were costing over £3,000,000. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to provide pensions for the blind, but he could not do so yet. The power given the Valuer-General was only that given ‘o the head of the Land and Income Tax Department to make his department run smoothly. A commission had been appointed to go into the question of the Totara Timber Company’s railway, and they had made certain recommendations. This Bill gave effect to those recommendations, and it. was entirely in the interests of the settlers. He did not think Clause 4 would result in evasion of taxation. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Public Accounts Committee. The House rose at 12.15 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.