PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2667, 24 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE STATE COLLIERY TROUBLE

|Pkk Pit ess Association. l WELLINGTON, Nov. 23

The House met at 2.30 p.rn. Replying to Mr. Davey, the Hon. R. McKenzie said he had' received in formation that if a fresh arrangement were not made, the men working the State ooa.l mine would go out. Negotiations had been going on between tne Miners’ Union and the management at Port Elizabeth with a view of arriving at a new agreement. The Minister, though well aware of the position, had not deemed it his duty to interfere. He was not able to state the actual position at the moment.

SURTAX TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR PRIMAGE DUTY.

The Premier gave notice of motion for Friday to substitute a 2J per cent surtax on the duty paid on dutiable goods, for the one per cent primage upon the value of goods recently imported, with the view of meeting the objection to the latter tax. The surtax, he stated, would produce slightly more than the primage duty and be quite fair to everybody. On the suggestion of Mr. Baume, the Premier asked leave to move the resolution to-day, so as to remove the inconvenience at present caused by the primage duty. Mr. Massey said that the proper procedure was to bring down proposals to increase taxation by Governor’s message. The Speaker ruled that a Governor’s message was unnecessary in the matter if a motion was moved by a Minister of the Crown.

The Premier having obtained tiie leave asked, the House went into Committee of "Ways and Means to consider the motion.

Mr. Massey said that the surtax would mean greatly increased taxation on articles already paying heavy duties, such as tobacco. The Premier, when bringing the motion forward, ought to be able to tell the House what, the result of the proposals would be. Members should have had a day’s notice to look into the matter.

Sir Joseph Ward replied that the surtax on the total amount of estimated duty, £2,000,000, would, if the duty was all collected in one year, produce £65,000. Mr. T. E. Taylor protested that the increased taxation should have been on luxuries in preference to necessaries. The Minister might havo increased the tax on spirits and beer. An increase on Customs taxation as a whole was objectionable, because it was indirect, and the average man was unaware how much he was paying. Mr. Laurenson contended that, for the present purpose, a surtax was advisable. On tobacco the surtax would amount to a penny a pound, and on liquor to fivepence a gallon, while on necessaries the taxation was reduced.

Mr. Allen considered the present proposal a great improvement on the primage duty. Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) moved an amendment to the effect that the Minister of Finance; raise the necessary taxation by means of increased Customs and excise duties on such articles of luxury as wines, spirits, tobacco, and beer.

The amendment was lost by 46 to 13, and the motion carried on the voices. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. A KEEN DEBATE.

On tlie House resuming in the evening, the debate on the taxation resolution was further continued. At the report stage, Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) moved as an amendment that a portion of the taxation be raised by means of a 25 per cent increase* in the excise duty levied on beer. Mr. Wright seconded the amendment, which, on division, was negatived by 44 to 21. Mr. Massey stated that under the new proposals spirits would pay £14,960 additional and tobacco £14,007. He condemned the unbusinesslike methods of the Government responsible for the present difficulty. Sir Joseph Ward expressed surprise at the attempt of the Opposition to make party capital out of, the question. He would consider the propriety of abolishing the tax on tobacco and putting it on to the land tax on the question of the third reading. Mr. Massey said he never_ liked the Dreadnought proposal, and if the Government had told the people it would involve taxation there would not have been so much enthusiasm about it. The country was committed to the expenditure without Parliament being consulted. As regards the Premier’s threat of an increase in the graduated land tax, that had no effect on the Opposition. He thought that a general election should precede taxation. He admitted frankly he was making pi- .v-il capital out of the question* would continue to do so. Mr. Laurenson drew a comparison between the proportionate amount ot taxation paid by the wealthy and the laboring classes, and said that taxation, had been adjusted so as to fall on the shoulders <)f. those best able to bear Xt *Mr Wright said that the cost of living had undoubtedly increased .ot late years, yet proposals were being made to increase taxation. / The motion was agreed to. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced by Governor’s message and road a hrst> time: Land for Settlement, Administration Land Laws Amendment, Bill to make provision for the gift of a warship to King Edward, and the Deceased I arsons’ Estates Bill. . The House went into committee on the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Bill. , A x . The Premier defended the taxation proposals, which lie said would be caceptable to the people generally. He challenged the Opposition to bring forward a motion traversing the. Government’s scheme and at the same time offering an alternative one. (Left Sitting.)