FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1625, 13 December 1905, Page 2

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

By telegraph, Press Ass'n, Copyright Received 12.2 a.m., Dec 18. Melbourne, Dec. 12. In tho House of Representatives Sir William Lyno’a Bill providing for tbo preservation of Australian industries and suppression of commercial trusts wes read a first time. The Queen Victoria Memorial Bill passed all stages. The Manufacturers’ Encouragement Bill was read a secoad time on the voices. In Committee Sir William Lyne moved an amendment that when tho Minister of Customs certified that the iron industry was sufficiently established, and the certificate saoctionod by Parliament, the duties Bhould oome into force. He explained that when manufacturers of wirenett'mg or reapers and binders obtained their iron from local manufacturers he would ask Parliament to proclaim the duty thereon. Mr Cook characterised the Bill as frivolous waste, a farce, and a fraud. No iron oould be made from Austrolian ore till 1996 (?j. Until produced locally in ooneiderable quantities the duties could not come into operation. Mr Deakin declared that Government was convinced that the manufacture of iron was worth a great national sacrifice. Any expenditure would be recouped by the deve'opmeDt of industry. Owners and prospective owners of iron works were well awaro that no immediate duties would be imposed, but they declared the passage of the Bill would be cf tho grea’est advaotige to them. The third reading was carried on the voices. Sir William Lyne’a Bill defines a commercial trust as a combination, whether within or beyond Australia, of separate and independent persons whoso voting power or determinations aro controlled or controllable by, firstly, creation of a trust or corporation wherein trustees of a corporation bold interests in shares or stock of oonßtituent persons ; secondly, an agreement; thirdly, creation of a board of management or its equivalent; fourthly, or some similar means. Under the Bill competition is deemed to be unfair if under ordinary circumstances of trade it would probably lead to Australian goods being either withdrawn from the market or sold at a loss unless produced eta lower remuneration for labor. Provision is made for a board appointed by tho Minister to investigate, and where there is proof of wifful contravention of the Act a fine of £SOO or six months’ imprisonment will be imposed, and the contract also declared illegal and void. Any ptrson injured by such contravention is empowered to recover through a court treble the amount of damages by such injury,