PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 141, 28 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

I PBB. TOlTBl> PKESB ASSOCIATION.! Wellington, June 26. Jim the House of Representatires The Customs Duties Bill was OTUfJ^ idered in Committee, J^^^M Tea, 6d per lb.— Captain noved that this item be recfaced^^^^H Sir Harry Atkinson said it wal^^^H easonable for any member to propofl^H luch a motion, as that. He wishec^H be House clearly to understand that^H he duty was an intregal part of the budget, and if the House rejected it he Government would have to condder as to how far the Budget was icceptable to the House. Captain Russell disclaimed any idea >f striking out the item altogether. Messrs Buchanan -and Thompson Auckland) regretted the tone of the Premier's speech. s Mr Hutchison said the proposed tax m tea was a most iniquitous one, and ie cared not who led he would fellow n voting against it. > : , . - The Hoa. Mr BaUance should Tote !or the increased tea duty. The motion for the reduction of the item to 4d was then pnt and lost by 12 to 35, and the duty of 6dperlb ;arried. '.->■■■;-. Eeplying to Mr Taylor, Sir Harry Atkinson said there was no truth in (he. report that the Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill had been vetoed by the Imperial Government, but the Government had received despatches on the subject asking them to re-con-sider it. The Premier added that the Government were not disposed to reconsider it. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply to consider the Imprest Supply. Bill, Mr Seddon moved, as an amendment, That it is inadvisable that the Government should longer delay the appointment of a Judge a» successor to the late Judge Johnston. Sir Harry Atkinson said that Mr Seddon's action was not only unprecedented, but was a serious blow to responsible Government, He told the House that the Government would not be driven in this matter by articles in newspapers, and it was already decided that the appointment would not ' be filled till after the session Was over. It was absolutely indecent to appoin t a successor to Mr Justice Jbhnston till the Government had received ' a des- \ patch in the usual way ■ announcing--that gentleman's death. ■ ,••■ > The amendment was rejected.' * The House went into Committee of Supply, when the Imprest Supply Bill for £200,000 was passed through all its stages. Replying to Mr Seddon, Sir HarryAtkinson said the House would be glad to hear" that the Public Work* expenditure of the last three monthswas £50,000 a month. Sir Harry Atkinson asked for authority to renew the Deficiency Bill* to the amount of £700,000.— Agreed to. .. • ■„.'■ •..•..■■' ■-__: ;■' ■ :,r ifc^i The Customs Duties Bill was fur^ f!S ther considered in Committee. ■ Tinware and tin stamped into shapes, 25 per cent.— Sir Harry Atkinson moved to strike out " tin stamped into shapes,' 7 and insert " tinsmiths' furniture not otherwise enumerated/ 1 — Agreed to. ; : ■>'.■:■■< '■ ■- Tobacco for sheep wash, 3d per lbv — Mr Bruce moved that this bestruck out.-^ Agreed to. . ; \ Tobacco (unmanufactured), 2s 66V per lb. — Seduced to 2s. Twine, 15 per cent.— Sir Harry Atkinson moved to insert the- word "binder" before twine. A lengthy discussion followed, during which Sir / John Hall moved that the item be struck out altogether, whioh was lost on the voices, and " binder" added.? Sir Harry Atkinson moved to insert textile piece goods other than cotton and silt, 20 per cent. He explained that he proposed to admit union shirt* ing free. — Agreed to. . Wine (Australian), 50s per gallon. — Mr Bruce asked how much duty the Premier expected from this. Sir H. Atkinson said that the revenue he expected was about £650 a year. Woolen- piece goods and woolen s manufactures, 20 per cent., were struck out, so as to arrange for better definition elsewhere. Fruit fresh.— lt was proposed to add lemons to this item, and to increase the duty from £d to id per lib. —Captain Russell expressed an opinion that it was only laziness that prevented New Zealand from competing with the Tasmanian growers in this way. He moved that the item be struck out.— Mr Walker contended that very bad fruit was introduced x from. Tasmania, and remarked that if the importation of pulp was stopped, we should soon be able to compete " with any other colony. — In the course of a discussion which ensued, Mr Fish said the reason why high prices were charged for fruit was that the charges for carriage were so high.— Finally, Captain Russell's amendment was lost by 55 to 23.— Dr Fitohett moved, to reduce the duty to id per lb.— The - item was agreed to. * The House rose at 1.25.