PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 75, 25 September 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. | TARIFF BILL IN COMMITTEE. ! (Per Pi\3?s! Association.) j i Wellington, September 24. I j Lo:ivo of absence for one week was ! granted to Sir R. Stout on account of : urgent private business and to Mr Hous- i ton for one week because of ill-liealth. Captain Russell asked the Premier if he could now inform the House what Bills it was intended to drop. Mr Seddon said he wanted to get the tariff out of the way and get back to ordinary business. He would then bo able to inform the lion, members what business he would go on with. The Customs- and Excise Duties Bill was further considered in committee. A motion to reduce cardboard boxes (except matchboxes) from 25 per cent, to the old duty of 20 per cent was lost by 89 to 21. The item, directories of Now Zealand also covers of directories, 25 per cent evoked considerable discussion. Mr Larnach asked why these items should be charged 25 per cent, when they were formerly free. Mr Ward said because they were sent out of the colony to be printed. He thought the people of the colony should be employed to do the work. The motion to strike out the whole item was lost by 42 to 17, and the motion to omit covers was lost by 34 to 20. On the item, supplements for New Zealand newspapers, also stereotypes and matrices 25 per cent, Mr Meredith said this was a new impost. These supplements contained a variety of useful matter, and if this duty were enforced it would damage a large number of country newspapers. He moved that " supplements " be struck out. Major Stewart said these supplements could be produced in the colony and the duty was justified. Messrs Willis and G. W. Russell spoko to a similar effect. Mr Reeves said a Quantity of these imported supplements was notoriously of the lowest character and their contents did not at all apply to New Zealand. Mr Meredith's amendment was carried by 81 to 23, and supplements were struck out, stereotypes and matrices being retained by 38 to 21. In the item priming matter, relating to patent or proprietary medicines, trade catalogues, price lists and fashion plates for firms or persons in the colony, 25 per cent, was amended by striking out " for firms" and inserting words " of goods of" firms. The duty on paper wrapping was reduced from 6s per cwt to 5s per cwt. In the item stationary manufactured, 25 per cent, ad valorem, a motion to strike out sketch books was lost by 33 to 23. A motion by Mr McGowan to strike out copy books was carried on the voices, as also wns a motion by Mr T. McKenzie to strike out drawing books. Unsuccessful attempts were made to strike out birthday booka, diaries and Christmas, New Year, Easter and birthday cards. Mr Buddo moved to reduce stationery and writing paper, not otherwise en urn • crated, from twenty to fifteen per cent. — Lost by 19 to 13. In class 12, manufactures of metal, Mr Bnick moved to reduce the duly on 10 '.to 24 bore cartridges from three shillings to eightpence per hundred, as it stood before. ' He said this ammunitien was indispensable to rabbitters in all parts of the colony. Mr Ward hoped the amendment would not be pressed, as it would destroy the most valuable manufacture. After a long discussion, Mr Ward said he would agree to a compromise of 2s per hundred, Mr Reeves (who was in temporary charge of the Bill), after a further debate, said he was prepared to go still forth er and make the duty Is 6d per hundred. Eventually, alter nearly two hours' discussion on the item, Mr Buick's amendment in favor of eightpence was put and lost by 38 to 23. Mr Duncan then proposed that Is be inserted, which was lost by 33 to 28 and Mr Ward's motion to make the duty Is 6d was carried by 36 to 27. Cartridge cases, Is 3d per hundred were reduced to ninopence. Cartridges, not otherwise enumerated, were retained at 20 per cent. Iron fencing wire (plain or barbed) la per cwt, caused considerable discussion. Major Steward moved this item be free of duty in the interests of the country settlers. Mr Ward said if this consession was granted he should have to release from the free list a number of articles that were already free. He said the Government were already giving the country people concessions from £20,000 to £25,000 a year. After a discussion lasting an hour and a half, Major Steward's amendment was carried by 28 to 24, and the item was struck out. A motion by Mr Earnshaw to reduce the duty on kerosene from 6d to 3d per gallon was lost by 23 to 20. A motion to place animals' food on the free list was lost by 24 to 20. The duty on linseed was reduced from £2 to £1 per ton. The duty of £1 per ton on potatoes was removed by 21 to 18. This finished all the schedules of the Bill with the exception of the free list. At 2.40 a.m. progress was reported, and the House rose.