PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 501, 30 October 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, Thursday

On Mr Herdman’s motion it was decided that a return be presented showing fi) the cost of conducting the last licensing poll in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, (2) the cost of the poll throughout the whole Dominion.

Mr Hogg, iu moving the second reading of the Flout Duty Abolition Bill, said the tax on flour was an anomaly in a civilised country. Workers had a hard enough struggle to make ends meet without having food taxed. Duties on articles of daily consumption ought to be abolished in the interest of the men who were creating the wealth of the country. The flour duty went into the pockets of the fat man, not into the State exchequer. Since the flour trust was formed it had taken from the pockets of the people a million of money. The tax had only one result, viz., to help the flour ring. Its abolition would benefit the farmers, who felt the burden of it.

No one else having risen the question was put to the vote, and the second reading was negatived by 39 to 21. The adjourned debate on Mr Fisher’s Legislature Amendment Bill was resumed, aud after a lengthy debate lasting till midnight the second reading was rejected by 3410 27.