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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1949, 4 August 1869, Page 2

Grain Statistics.—Official statistics recently issued show that the total value of the grain and flour imported into New Zealand during the year 1808 was L 313,470. The total value of the same articles exported during the same period was L 122,266. Of this, however, only LI 19,129 was the produce of the colony, thus making the excess of imports over exports L 194,341, or 163.13 per cent. Supreme Court, —Mr Justice Ward held a sitting in banco to-day, when the following business was transacted Crawshvw and another v. The Mayor and Corporation of Port Chalmers. His Honor delivered judgment, making the rule absolute on the first ground for reduction of damages, and refusing the rule for a new trial on the ground of misdirection.—New Zealand Steam Navigation Company (Limited) v. Little. Argument of case on appeal from the Resident Magistrate’s Court, as amended. Mr Maca sey appeared to support the appeal and Mr Haggitt was heard against it. Judgment for the appellant, with costs. The other cases set down for hearing w eve postponed.

The Assembly. The sitting on on Friday last was occupied in committee on the “Otago Hundreds Regulations Bill.” It was a free fight—somewhere about half the Otago members approving the Bill, and the other half condemning certain clauses in it. They had the ta k almost wholly to themselves, and brought to bear upon the discussion all their local jealnusr s and feelings. At times there was a regular shindy, and very unparliamentary compliments were occasionally interchanged. Mr Howorth accused -'•rBell of misleading the c •mmittee, and Mr Bell thereupon fired up, asserting that if such an accusation could be proved, he would resign his seat in the Executive and the House. Presently Mr Howorth explained or apologised, and peace was restored on that point. Numerous divisions took place, and although several attempts were made to adjourn the committee, it kept on until all the clauses were gone through and the Bill reported. It is, however, to be re-committed for the alteration of a clause, and the addition of another.

The Proposed Duty on Grain — Commenting on the proposal to impose a duty on imported grain, the Oamnau Times remarks: “The farmers generally, especially in this district, where so large a breadth of wheat is annual y sown, will rejoice with us to see that it is proposed to place an import duty on grain and Hour. This will he an immense bxm to them, and indeed to the whole country ; and while every man who feels the importance of giving the local pr ducer a fair footing in the market, will be glad to see the the wheat growers of this and other countries placed on even terms, there will not be less satisfaciou at the care which is evident Mr Vogel’s part that the weal of the bulk of the people shall not he sacrificed for the benefit of one sole class. While on the one baud the measure will in effect prevent wheat and flour falling below a certain minimum , it will also not enhance its price when a certain fixed maximum has been reached. In effect, the object of the measure is to prevent wheat falling below a price which will pay the grower, by putting a tax on imported wheat; but not to increase the price of the poor man’s loaf beyond a certain point, as the moment wheat reaches a fixed limit per bushel, importation is to be free. We foresee, however, certain possible difficulties arising out of this. Suppose, for instance, that 4s were the maximum indicated (we do not sty that it is), and the market price in Hokitika were 4s fid, and in Dunedin 3s lid on any particular day, -would importation be .allowed free of duty at the former part, while dutiable at the latter. Then again, how is the value at each port to he ascertained ? Who is to give the market value ? Is an average value to he taken for all the Colony, or is the price of wheat at the particular port at which the vessel enters to decide the point as to whether the cargo is dutiable or duty free. Is there to he an arbitrary Government value for wheat or flour telegraphed daily to Customs officers, or are the Cusoms officers to fix it day by day? If wheat to-day be 4s, and a cargo is admitted free of duty ; but this day week the price rises to 4s Id—is a cargo then arriving to pay duty ? There seems to us to he conconsiderable difficulty here, and we sli >ll be curious to see how it is intended to work the matter.