ADJOURN TODAY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 29241, 11 October 1940, Page 2

ADJOURN TODAY

PROGRESS IN HOUSE POSTPONEMENT OF DEBATE URGENCY TAKEN FOR BILLS FARMERS AND PROFITS TAX (By Telegraph.—Special lo Times) WELLINGTON, Thursday A substantial clearance of business was made by the House of Representatives today, and it now seems that an adjournment will be taken tomorrow until next month. It was originally intended to have a debate tomorrow on war regulations, but this has been postponed until Parliament is again in session, Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition—Tauranga), to whom the promise of such a debate was given by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, having agreed that, in view of the shortness of the time, the discussion should be postponed until November. Most of the afternoon was occupied with the second reading debate on the Termites Bill. Destruction caused by termites was discussed by the Minister of Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who revealed how a State-owned house in the Auckland Province had been completely eaten away by these insects within two years of its erection. Concession To Farmers The committee stages of the Excess Profits Tax Bill were taken in the evening. An amendment was made to the bill by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, so as to allow the Commissioner of Taxes to take poor seasons into account in assessing farmers’ normal income. The bill was put through all stages and passed before the supper adjournment. Urgency was also taken for three other bills. Rapid progress was made after supper with the Termites Bill, the War Pensions and Allowances (Mercantile Marine) Bill and the Native Purposes Bill, all of which were passed. Urgency will be taken tomorrow for the Insurance Companies Bill, the Small Farms Amendment Bill, and a Finance Bill which will be introduced in the morning. The Prime Minister said the Finance Bill would not be contentious, and he understood it involved some easement of aspects of taxation. The House rose at 11.5 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. tomorrow. Men On Merchant Ships During the second reading debate on the War Pensions and Allowances (Mercantile Marine) Bill, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, asked whether the bill applied to the men who were carrying New Zealand’s produce to Britain. “ When this bill is passed there will be three Acts—British, Australian and New Zealand.” the Minister replied, 44 so that all the men will be covered.” An alteration in the interpretation clause of the bill was made tonight. The measure as originally drafted aoplied to the crew of any ship on the New Zealand register, but this interpretation has been amended so that the legislation will apply to the crew of a ship on New Zealand articles, a ship trading exclusively in New Zealand waters but not on the articles, and a shir) owned and operated by the New Zealand Government or any harbour board. Mr Hamilton: How does that affect men on Home-going boats carrying our produce? Mr Fraser: They are the British Government’s responsibilitv. They are covered already under the British scheme. The bill as amended was passed. Union Secretary’s Letter An allegation that it had been stated by a union secretary that farmers’ sons who left the farms to work in wool stores were liable to be arrested and sent home was contained in a question of which Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition Christchurch North) gave notice. He asked the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, whether farmers’ sons and other country workers were to be prevented from working in wool stores during the coming season. In a note to his question Mr Holland said the manager of a large concern owning wool stores had received from a secretary of a wool store workers’ union a letter containing the following statement:— 44 At the Federation of Labour meeting held in Wellington in July the question of farmers’ sons working in wool stores was discussed and the chairman, who is the Labour representative on the man-power committee, stated that all farmers’ sons have to remain on the farms. If they leave them to work in the wool stores they are liable to be arrested and sent back to the farms.” 44 The question is too absurd,” commented the Minister. Trustees and War Loan Mr W. P. Endean (Opposition— Remuera) asked the Minister of Finance in an urgent question whether trustees of estates were to take up the war loan or whether beneficiaries of income were liable to take it up in relation to income ta.'j paid by trustees on their behalf. - Where any person would be liable as agent for the whole or any part of the income tax payable by a principal. both agent and principal are jointly and severally required to comply with the conditions of the loan,” Mr Nash replied. 44 It is provided that in no case shall any agent be liable to subscribe more than an amount equal to the value of the assets belonging to the principal and for the time being in the agent’s hands.” Non-Union Labour Questions were asked by Opposition members concerning the employment of non-union labour. Mr E. B. Gordon (Rangitikei). in conjunction with Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka). asked whether the Minister would take steps under the emergency regulations to enable non-union shearers to be employed during the coming season, particularly for the convenience of smail fanners, and Mr D. C. Kidd (Waitaki> asked what the position would be concerning the employment of non-union labour on threshing mills,

for which mill-owners had been prosecuted last year, when union labour was not available. “ There is no change in the legal position that it is an offence for an employer to emDioy or to continue to employ adult non-union labour in an occupation subject to an award,” the Minister replied. “ Workers who wish to accept work at an occupation subject to an award have a responsibility to join the appropriate union so that employers can protect themselves by seeing that their men do so. Regarding Mr | Gordon’s question, it is doubtful | whether the position described is due I to the present emergency conditions.'*