PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1921, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

HI'MCIAI. TO tiI’AIMMAN. TI.MHKI*. DI'TIKS. WKUJNCTON. - Tinii)t*i duties wurc disriisM*i| 11»• t'vu hniir-N in tin* lloust* Mi £oildon , Westland' asked lor inn eased duty oil cheap; foreign timbers, lie pointed out that the limber industry v.;,s the sec-oud most impoitant in Ibo

ilauduicm. 1 1 upi ii 1 a lions of oregeni pine had the- e-lle-e-t of i e-el lining the- demaliel lor see,,ud grade timbers, aiul -o caused V.uste. at the- same time- inc reasing the pi ice* of first grade limbers. Representatives of oilier sawmilKng disl riels supported Mr Se-ddon. dlhei meml.ers urged that i nc-i eased dulies Mould mean dealc-i timhe-r. They staled that timber m;is lar ton costly ahe-rel.v. anil that the community iiee-il-lel cap timhe-r. Atte-ntioii Mas lira" i to the big elisi ri-paiii y he-lwi-eii mill plic-e-s a'lel merihants price's. Tin- elutMen- nut ami-mli'd. OTHER DI'TIKS. S, V l-r:l I lleelldli-l s aske-ci led i I 11-re-a see I pi oieel ion lor 1 In- melor Inuly imlusl ry. Miuisli-r said that l lie- general du'y ~f ce-lit covered 111. .-si- el' tin- ilii,n rli-cl c-ais, and < mi-l itiiU-cl a substantial prelect ion, but lie- premised te e-en-side-r tin- item. A prepesal that perambulators should !„. admitted lie-e of duly was rejeeteel, al'n-i' the i-hiims el the local industry had been staled. The House reached the end of the sihednle- huoii alter midnight. Somepoints held over for consideration will 1,,, laker lain in the- week.

MEAT STOCKS.' The Prime Minister told the House he had learned that four days ago the quantity of old meat in London was 20,000 tons. This meat lin’d been sold by the Imperial Government to merchant's, but had not yet reached the retailers, nor consumers, lie had been told that half this meat was New Zealand ami the other half Australian. It had been suggested that the Governments of United Kingdom, New Zealand ami Australia should join in repurchasing this meat with the object id sending it to the Continent. This proposal required much consideration. No country in the world was so much concerned about meat prices as Argentina, itn.l lie bail nut lieu id any suggestion that Argentine people should join in the purchase of old meat.

BUTTER STOCKS. Mr Massey added that he had asked I'm information regarding the uumbet of boxeft ol' last season’s butter held in l.oliiloli, hut lie had not received figures yet. lie had asked the Imperial authorities some weeks iigd (h hold this old butter off the market in order to avoid depressing the price, hut they had replied very courteously that it was not possible to comply with the request. Ilf bail no additional information concerning delay ill unloading steame't-v. Importers in Liverpool and Mnncbcsfel were anxious to receive direct shipments from New Zealand. He was watching Jill these matters and would assist producers wherever it was possihie to do so. tariff Discussion’.

The House nt Representatives resumed eonsiileiation of the n"w tariff , 'irlv tliis afternoon and made good progress during the afternoon and evening. Class 10 which was dealt with first, contains metals and machinery of nl! sorts and many details were disi u-sc,l briefly by the members inter-

ested. Objection was taken to the duties on east iron pipes. on the ground that they were used childly by local bodies. The Minister replid tluil pipes were bt-ing made successfully in New Zealand, and it was suited further that east iron pipes came trom GcDilati manufacturers. The duty was retained.

Members suggested that a preferential duty should he impressed on wire, in the interests of British nionulaeturers. Wire is IVee under all headings at present, and country members emphasised tlm importance of avoiding an increase of price. Tim Minister promised to look into the siigge<Motl.

Wire netting is free under the pt'--loicntial tariff, hut is charged 10 per cent under the general tarifl. Ihe iccmher lor Wakatipu representing I.il.bil infested districts asked for the

emoval ol the duly in order that acting might be cheapened. His amenilnt was rejected by In viii,i’“ to lib Til" member for Waikato asked Ob he i"moral of the duties on h’coino-

ijvcs in tin., interests nt district iailwsv boards. 'I he Minislet explained till, (Inti,.- ol I’ll per "'Ol pretcienp.|. and ;F. pet cent general, were r , 1111 !■- 1 1 to piotcd local indiistiy. Covarntnettt was going to pay duty on Os imported locomotives in future. No imciidm. iit was made. Items held over lor consideration by the Minister inch lilecl cash registers and adding nw■bines, which were tree in the oi iginal la rill’ and were made subject to 20 per cut diit.v by amending resolutions.