Essence of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 9 July 1892, Page 2

Essence of Parliament.

Wednesday was very quiet. It was stated by the Minister of Public Works, that the purchase of the Manawatu line by the Government would be a very large financial undertaking, but if the Company approached the Government for that purpose he would, notify the House thereof.

The following new Bills were introduced and read the first time ; — The Local Authorities Accounts and Audit Bill ; the Property Law Consolidation Act Amendment Bill : The Kohoao Eestriotion Bill ; a Bill for farther amending- The Public Works Act, 1882; the Companies Branch Registers Act Amendment Bill, the Employers Liability Aotg Amendment Bill; the Workman's Lien Bill ; the Hawkers and Pedlars Bill.

Mr T. McKenzie moved a resolution affirming the desirableness of abolishing the stock tax,— The motion was discussed at some length, and finally lost on a division by, 42 to H.

The second reading of tb.fi Printer* and Newspapers Kegistration Act, 1868, Amendment Bill, was carried on tbe voices.

On Thursday the following new Bills were introduced and read tha first time : — Westland and Grey Education Boards Bill and Labour Department Bill, and the Criminal Code Bill. ••■ < ..■■.-."

From the N.Z. Times we take the following debate on import duty on coals.

The Minister for Public Works resumed the debate on the resolution affirming the desirableness of putting a duty on coal imported into the Colony. He mentioned that the Railway Commissiqnerß had reduced the cost of coal from the mines at Westport, the reason for which, at given by them, being that they found that coal was delivered in Wellington from Newcastle at 8s per ton less than the West Coast coal could be delivered and sold. The cause of that was that the Newcastle colliers had lost their other markets, and were now sending their supplied to New Zealand, He also men« tioned that last year 126,000 tons of coal were imported into New Zealand and if they had won that quality in the Colony their colliers would have received £20,000 more than they did. He would move as an amendment that the matter bo referred to a Select Committee to make enquiries into, after which the House could come to a definite conclusion on tha question. He would consult with the Leader of the Opposition as to the personnel of that com* mittee.

Mr Palmer seoonded the ameqdt ment, remarking that reduotioqa in the freight of coal ought to be made on all the lines in the Colony.

The Hon Mr Eolleston said he would not be a party in any way to a select committee entertaining a question of this magnitude— a ques« tion which affected a very great policy, viz., whether the country should be dominated by protection or protective cliques, or whether they should have freetrade. It was a very large question, and the Government ought to introduce it as a matter of policy.

The Minister for Education said the discussion seemed to hate been led by the leader of th« Opposition into the direction of a debate on freetrade and protection. The time for such a discussion was inopportune and would probably, if commenced, take two or three weeks. Their brethren in New South Wales had recently placed prohibitive duties on New Zealand product!, although New Zealand did not shut out their coal. It was because they thought coal was so important a product that they wished to do everything to stimulate the coal industry, and that was the object of tho Government in considering the question now before the House. There was also the question of retaliation, and it might be the quickest way of getting their farm produce to New South Wales, to put a prohibitive duty on Newcastle coal. (Hear, hear.) At any rate, the matte was entitled to fair consideration, and a Select Com* mittee of this House was perfectly fitted to consider it

Mr McLean said that from a visit he had paid to the coal mines he had come to the conclusion that the price of coal was too high, the imposition of an import duty would make it still higher, and the only course open was the introduction of a Bill prohibiting the sale of any more land known to contain coal, and penalising these owners of mines who did not properly work them. (Hear, hear.) Good wages could be earned by the miners, but there was only one real owner on the West Coast, and he regulated the supply of coal to suit the running of his two steamers. The cost of getting West Coast coal to Wellington, was 18s per ton, and seeing that it was sold retail at frow 28s to 82s per ton,

an enormous profit was realised, and if they put 5s a ton on imported coal the profit would still be great. The Government should Woi'k their own coal measures* and then they Gould stipply coal at a niuch cheaper i?ate than ftt preterit. He should duppdrt the ameiidirierit, arid should endeavour to bring forward a I'ill dealing with the question Mr'Duthie objected to the House considering the proposal as a vq taliatory measure, and remarked that if they prevented slfips getting back freight they would? be doing themselves a very great' injury. An impo«t duty on coal would simply enable combinations to raise the already high price charged. He opposed both the motion and amendment.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.80 adjournment.

In the evening the Coroners' Inijrtsstii Bill was read a second Krn^.

The Compensation to Licensed Victuallers Bill got killed at its second reading by 27 to 22.