PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 169, 18 July 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

* " : Welltsqtos, July 17. \ In the House of Representatives yesterday, fourteen days leave of absence was granted to Mr Webster. The principal business in the afternoon was " a discussion on the proposed alteration ia the excise by the Commissioner of Customs, namely, that after the Ist July, 1875, seven Shillings be charged on co onial distilled Spirits; after Ist July, 1877, eight shillings; 'and after the Ist July, 1879, nine shillings per .gallon. The' Commissioner quote 1 a lot of statistics showing the quantity of barley grown, and gallons of liquor distilled since the Act was r passed in 1868, the result of which was that £ the revenue had lost £80,606 and that for : every bushel of barley growu in the Colony the differential duty lost to it was 2a per .- bushel; that, instead cf distilling promoting . it did the reverse, nor did the bqginess employ labtw 10 any great extent the permanent bands employed at the Auek- • lapd distillery being only five and in Dunedin - twenty? tbree. -. Mr Fyke opposed giing into committee. - Mr Sheeban wanted all the matter to be -placed, in the bands of a select committea before going into committee of Ways and Means, and defended the Interests of Auck- . land distillers. Mr Dillon supported the Government view and slid Uyt if the proposed changes s.-riotuly interfered wilh any intercut it was the business of a Select Committee to deal with that subsequently/ Mr Luckte supported the proposils as several members suggested they should do < away with distilleries in the Co ony since the ' revenue suffered so much. --■ Mr McGiashan opposed thit ac absurd, and --said that he thought that, the country having tlostao mach in a mistaken attempt to foster distillation, they .should devis? come mtaus of recouping themselves from the industry they bad Bpent it on. Mr Reader Wood said this, their first attempt at protection, was a greit failure, as ■ alt luture ones would be also. - : Mr Murray thought they ought rather to - ezciode imported spirits thaa to interfere so as to check colonial distillation. At the request of Mr ,Tolaiie f petitions from the Dunedin distiUeries were read to the House. The House then adjourned at the dinner ' hoar. Mr Swanson asked the P.emier whether he had any objection to l*y upon the table the opinion of the Attorney-General as to the rights of civil servants to pen-ious which «•*» - submitted to a select Committee appointed last teaeion to report upon the Civil Service BUI. The Premier sail he had no objection personally and would take the responsibility '" of laying it upon the table. Mr O'Neill asked the Commissioner of Customs when the report on the New Zealand ligbthousts womd tie iaid on the table. Mr Key nolds replied that it, would be done as soon as the Government were in possession of lull information regarding the lighting of the wnole coast. Ihe marine report was not completed, as the reports iroin remote siatioi.s were not yet received. iMhe lion, member waited upon him he would give him all the inJermaiiun at present known. Mr Kenny asked the Cjmmi s : o er of Cu> toms why the lighthouse at iorj- Ciia; tei heads haa not been erected, and wne her it „ was the intention of the G-vernment to proceed with the work without farther delay. IfcMr Reynolds said that the deUy hud been * :abpoiui*4y, necessary aud would,, be fouud nottohiVe been Wdatei it' they succeeded v lighting Cook's Straits properly.