BRITISH PREFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1903, 12 October 1906, Page 2

BRITISH PREFERENCE.

PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 10 49 p.m,, Ootober 11,

Melbourne, Oot. 11.

The House of Representatives ooneidered the Senate’s deoision regarding British preference. Mr Deakin said that as far as the request for amendment of the date to August 31 was oonoerned, it was all right; but in deolariog the amendment by the House of Representatives was not a modification of iheir request it entered grounds that it was impossible for tho House to discuss. He declared that it was a proper modification of the Senate’s request, and the Senate’s aotion was now wanting io the element of party character, which by some form or device wanted to got rid of British preference altogether. If the provision in regard to British ships was left io it would seriously imperil the Bill.' He proposed to ask the Governor-General to reoommend the necessary, alteration in the Bill by message. This British preference should not be defeated while Government could help .it. No resort would be left untried* to give it effect. He asked the House to assert its right agamst the section of the Benate.

Mr Joseph Cook, while supporting the House in asserting its right, declared it had no right to drag the Governor-General into party politics. To utso iuo-avvoiuu,-—m.. to serve certain party ends would degrade the House, degrade politics, and tho oonduct of business Government proposed to set every law o Parliament at defiano?, and resort t

every shift in order to get a wretched placard to go to the country on, It was a most unwarrantable and dangerous proceeding.

After a long discussion Mr Deakio suggested tho diffieulty might be overcome by passing this Bill, and immediately introducing a now Bill embodying the amendment in dispute as an amendment of the present Bill. This oourse was adopted, the amending measure, setting out that the British Preference Act was amended by omitting discrimination in favor of British shipping, passed all stages.

A DEAD-LOOK.

PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT Received 12.33 a.m,, Oct. 12. Melbourne, Oot. 11. The Senate made short work of the Amending Preference Bill. Mr Playford, without comment, read «he third reading of the Bill as sent down from the Senate and returned from the House of Representatives on the understanding that the Amending Bill was to immediately follow. The third reading was carried by 17 to 7. Mr Playford then moved the first reading of the Amending Bill, whioh omitted preference to British ships. This was rejected by 19 to 5. The Bills were sent back to the House of Representatives. Received 112 a.m., Oot- 12. The House of Representatives ogain passed the amendments to the Preference Bill and returned it to the Senate, accom panied by a message from the GovernorGeneral, recommending the adoption of the amendments, In the Senate Mr Play* ford explained that the Governor-General was acting on the advice of Ministers, who had recommended the amendments. He pointed out the neoeseiiy for the amendments in view of the treaties with other oolonies, but the Senate would have none of the amendments, rejecting the Bill bv 16 to 6. The House of Representatives meantime timporarily adjourned, but met again, and ate discussing the situation