WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

RECIPROCITY. TARIFF AGHEEMENNT. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, August 2 Second and third thoughts in regard to the proposed Customs Tariff agreement between Australia and New Zealand confirm the first impression that it is likely to encourage trade between the two countries without seriously prejudicing the established industries of either of them. New .Zealand canned ’fruits, it is expected, will not be greatly affected, but canned fish of different varieties and canned tongues, already in good demand in Australia, will find a still wider market on account of the removal of the duty. It is anticipated too, that under the revised tariff Now Zealand agricultural implements and machinery will find their way into the Commonwealth. There is a difference of opinion among the boot manufacturers, as to how they arc going to fare, but the head of one of the largest firms engaged in the business takes quite an optimistic view of the outlook. The sawmillers, so far as can he gathered, are practically unanimous in thinking the abolition of the Australian duty on rough sawn timber is going not only to help their industry, but also to reduce the cost of building timber

| for local use. Altogether the appeari a net' of the now tariff seems to improve ; on acquaintance. MARKING TIME. Notwithstanding tlio fart that none of the recommendations embodied in the report of the Special Committee on licensing legislation will conic within the sphere of practical politics till after the next general election, the whole report is to lie made the subject of a prolonged discussion in the House this week. What useful purpose will he served by inviting sixty or seventy members to express their views on the reform and reconstruction of the liquor traffic fit this particular Stage it is difficult even to conjecture. Their speeches, no doubt, will be addressed mainly to their constituents and might be just as well reserved for the hustings, After this unprofitable demonstration the House is to devote a sitting or two to one of the Proportional Representation Bills and to several other measures foredoomed to rejection. The truth is that at the moment Parliament is “going slow” ns flagrantly as the men on the waterfront occasionally do, and apparently with no better reason. Two months hence it will he working at such a pace, it will have time to do nothing well. Hilt this is the record of every election session no matter what the colour of the Government may Ire. TAXATION COMMITTEE. ; Wl.cn Mr .Massey last referred to | the report, of the Advisory Taxation i Committee he said the pressure of 1 other business had prevented him from more than merely glancing over the document. He bad seen enough of it, however, to satislv him that it contained a. large amount of very valuable information and a number of useful suggestions, it may he presumed that since then he has found time to make a closer study of the report and to weigh the contents more deliberately. Not a hint, however, lw 8 been given to the public as to the nature of its contents or as to the direction of its recommendations. and any speculations m this respect are mere guess work. Rut it mav he taken for granted that no su""ostion for any considerable reduction m the volume of taxation has been ma.de, The Prime Minister took care in his inaugural address bo tlio Committee to emphasise the futility of any such proposal. There might be readjustment, but there could be n reduction. His subsequent speeches in the House have left no doubts, and no lingering liopeH, on this P o,n Thev have-.made it abundantly clear that only by drastic economies can the burden of the tax-payer be liEht-

ened. IMMIGRATION. The feature of yesterday’s proceeding in' the House was the discussion arising out of the presentation of the Annual Report of the Department., The Hon • 1 worthy, the Minister in charge, m ask ,„g permission to lay the report on the table explained that though the expenditure for the year was shown as £9.(7.009. it really amounted to no more than £00,875, including all over head charges, the difference being due to credits which still had to he ndilisted 'The number of assisted immigrc.nU cost approximately £8 P« head Mr Wilford insisted that the Minister was not stating the position correctly and moved as an amendment to the motion for laying the report on the table to the effect that while unemployment was acute the bringing of immigrants to N.Z. was unwarranted The succeeding debate "as carried on mainly by the Labour members, Mi l.vsnar and Mr Campbell being the only Reformers to intervene, and the amendment was emphatically rejected by thirty-three votes to seventeen.