Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 21 September 1895, Page 2

Parliament.

l# • HOUSED REPBESENTATIVES. Thursday, September 19. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. The Native Land Law Amend* ment Bill (Mr Seddon) was read a second time proforma t and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The House went into Committee on the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. Claupe C, decision of disputes as to exemption of shirtings to be final on the part of Commissioner, was postponed till the schedule was passed, it being pointed put that considerable alterations would probably be made in the schedule. Clause 7, annual fee of £2 payable by licensed agents. Several members thought this fee too high. Mr Ward said this wa3 not a matter of income, but it was meant to ensure the proper administration of the Customs Department. Eventually Mr Ward accepted a reduction to £1, which was agreed to. Objection was taken to the fee being made an annual one, but a motion to make it a fixed fee was lo3t by 42 to 15, and the clause passed at £1 by 41 to 14. Clause 9, provision as to the manufacture of articles, of which spirit is a necessary ingredient. Messrs Steward and T. Mackenzie said the Tariff Commission found that this duty was absolutely necessary. Mr Ward said he proposed that a duty on this article should be imposed at the end of Februasy. This was to enable existing stocks to be put out. Mr Button moved that the duty on perfumed spirit be reduced to 10s per liquid gallon instead of 20s. Lost by 31 to 28, and 20s retained.

Several other reductions in the clause were proposed bat rejected. The House rose at 5 80 and resumed at 7.8&: In committee on the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. On the motion of Mr Ward, it was decided that thr^Btjnsi^pP "* fumed spirit and culinary^d^yor. idg essences shall not 'comt into fordo until the Ist of February. 1808. -—**»• The clause was carried as amended. On Clause, 14, operation of the Act, Mr Ward stated, in reply to Mr Earnshaw, that no refund on duties alrrady paid would be made, and no one who had paid duty at the reduced rates would be asked to refund. Mr G. W. Russell moved a new clause to prohibit the importation of prison-made goods into the colony. After a long discussion the clause was rejected by 40 to 21.