PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 74, 24 September 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 21. The House met at 7.30. The Customs and Excise Duties Bill was further considered in Committee. Discussion was resumed on the item, boots, shoes, slippers, etc., 25 per cent, and Mr Massey's amendment to reduce the duty to 20 per cent. Hon. Ward said he could not accept Mr Massey's amendment, as it would mean serious loss to the revenue, but he should be prepared to accept a reasonable compromise. Mr Masscy: What is a reasonable compromise ? Mr Ward : Say 22A- per cent. Captain Russell said this proposal of the Treasurer showed there was some principle of reasoning on the part of the Government after all. He thought however that this " splitting the difference" on the part of the Government was the most inglorious termination to Saturday evening's performance that could possibly be witnessed. He hoped members in favor of twenty per cent would not allow themselves to be talked over by Government to vote for 22i per cent, which was an escessive duty. Mr McLachlan thought 22£ per cent, was a very reasonable compromise. There had been no caucus of Government supporters on the subject. Members had met together in the Whips' room that morning in an informal manner, and after talking the matter over had agreed that 22£- per cent was a fair compromise. The proposal had not emanated from the Colonial Treasurer or from any other j member of the Government. Several other members who were present bore out Mr McLachlan in this statement. In the course of the discussion which lasted for nearly three heurs, Mr Seddon mentioned that a3 the result of private members tinkering in the tariff. Government would have to recommit the Bill to reconsider the fruit duty as the wrong months had been selected during which the duty should be lowered. On a division on the boot item, the words twenty-five per cent were struck out by 49 to 17. Mr Massey's amendment to substitute twenty per cent was then put and lost by 39 to 27. The following is the division list on Mr Massey's amendment to make the boot duty 20 per cent: — Ayes (27) — Allen, Bell, Buchanan, Buick, Button, Carncross, Orowther, Dulhie, Fraser, Graham, Green, Heke, Hall-Jones, Laing, T. Mackenzie, McGowan, Maslin, Massey, Meredith, MeGuire, Mitchelson, Newman, O'Regan, W. E. Russell, R. Thompson, Willis, and Wilson. ! Noes (39) —Buddo, Cadman, Carnell, Carroll, Collins, Duncan, Earnshaw, Flatman, Hall, Harris, W. Hutchison, Hogg, Joyce, J. W. Kelly, W. Kelly, Laruaeh, Lawry, Mclntosh, J. McKenzie, R. McKenzie, McLachlan, Miller, McNab, Mills, Montgomery. Morrison, Parata, Pinkerton, Pirani, Reeves, G. W. Russell, Seddon, E. M. Smith, G. J. Smith, Stevens, Steward, Tanner, T. Thompson, and Ward. Pairs —Ayes: Te Ao and Stonfc( Noes; Wi Pere and Houston. Mr McLachlan then moved to make the duty 22^ per cent ad.valorem, which was carried by 39 to 27. In committee on the Customs Bill buff and split leather, including satin, hides and tweeds were put under 3d per lb duty instead of 4d. The duty on sole leather was reduced from 3d to 2d. Leather cut into shapes was reduced from 25 per cent to 22£ per cent. The item placing the duty at 20 per cent on photographs, framed and unframed, evoked a very long discussion. Mr Ward said he would probably deal with the matter on the free list. No alteration made in the item. Mr Montgomery moved that works of art over £50 in value be admitted free of duty in the interests of general culture* Lost by 32 to 10. Mr G. H. Smith moved to reduce the duty on tobacco, pipes, and smokers' requisites generally from 25 to 20 percent. Lost by 35 to 11. A motion to report progress vras carried by 22 to 21. The House rose at 8.10 a.m.