PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 136, 16 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[ PER UNITED 7BEBS ASSOCIATTOir. f Weilington, June 14V

In the House of Bepresentativefl, Mr O'Callaghan resumed the debate on the Customs Duties Bill. He approved of Protection, bat objected tothe 'Frisco service, and tea and primage duties. Mr Dodson was in favor of raising 1 the school age, and would support the tariff. The Hon. Mr Ballance welcomed Mr Dodson as a convert to Protection, although he still was a Freetrader in theory, He (Mr Ballance) had not always been a Protectionist, but he was of opinion that it was absolutely necessary for the country, and whether the present Bill were perfect or not, he felt that the tariff proposals would ! give hope and encouragement to thosepeople who were. leaving the colony. Mr Mills made a non-committal speech as to Freetrade and Protection. He thought the Government had gone far enough in the matter of retrenchment.

Mi; Carroll delared Mr Ballance'sAct unworkable, and advocated Freetrade in native lands. He was also a Freetrader as regards the tariff. Sir John Hall disapproved of raising the school age, and did not approveof the 'Frisco service. He "was surprised that the Government had been able to retrench so largely, and with regard to the tariff he contended ifc was by no means light as compared with other countries. The House divided, and the motion for committal was carried by 50 to 27. Sir Harry Atkinson said that, much as he regretted losing olid friends, still he must do his duty to the country irrespective of friends. He must alsotell the Opposition, &ome of whom had taunted the Government of doing their work, that the Government were doing the work of no party, but pursuing their own convictions of what was necessary for the country. He had been twitted with bringing down taxation proposals identical with Sir J. Yogel'a, but those who said that altogether overlooked the fact that .before asking for more revenue they had reduced expenditure by nearly a quarter of a million. It was possible they might find next year more revenue would be wanted, though he hoped not, but all be could say was if it were found necessary he must have it. He coinbatted the idea of any retrenchment being possible in mail services. The . only thing that could be done was to abolish them altogether, to which the public would never submit. Speaking generally, the Government were still continuing the work of reduction, and 'intended- to do so wherever they could. As to sourcesof fresh taxation, he had his eye on several, but they must have something: in preserve. It was of most importance that the tarifE should remain fixed for some time to come, and. that was one of the reasons why he had not touched sugar and other articles, which, if necessary, could be taxed at a future date, without disturbing trade. '

The Bill was considered in Committee, clause 1 passed, arid progress reported. ....... The House rose at mid-night. May 15. The House went into Committee on the Customs Duties Bill. A new olause was proposed exempting machinery for grain mills or textile fabric mills, intended for mills in the course of construction prior to May 30th, from the operation of the new tariff. v The clause was passed, with the provison that such machinery must be landed in the colony within six months. Dried apples, Id per lb, was struck out.

Progress was reported, and the House adjourned. ■ \