PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8912, 4 September 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

House of Representatives. par Press Association. Wki/ ikototj, September 3. Thp House mot at 3.30. Tn reply to Mr T. McKenzie, the premier Intimated that the control f registered Infant Homes under Hio Infantile Protection Act would transferred to the Education Dojjrtmant. Authority had already ecu given, but it would require legislation, which would bo introduced this session. The Premier, referring to the death of the Hoa.-W. W. - Johnston, traced his connection with Parliament, and eulogised his qualification and his services rendered to the colony. Ho moved that the House record its regret at the death [of 'the Hon. W. W. 'Johnston, and place on record its high sense of the faithful service rendered to the colony by the deceased, and the loss that the country lias sustained by his death, and that the House express its sympathy with the deceased’s relatives. Mr Massey and Mr Stevens also spoke in eulogistic terms of the deceased. The House adjourned at 3.30 until 7.30. The House resumed at 7.30. The House went into Committee on tho Tariff Bill. The Hon. J. A. Millar said ho desired to amend tho item “Boots, etc,. Is (id per pair and 15 per cent ad valorem,’’so that it should not take effect until after October 31 st, 1907. The amendment was agreed to. Class B—Furniture and household furnishings, agreed to unaltered. At Class 9—China, glass, and earthen goods— Mr Aitkcu urged that preference should be given to British manufactured glass. The Hon. Millar said the reason that preference was not given to British made glass was duo to tho

fact that a combination existed in England, and it was impossible to procure glass except from one firm (Pilkington’s), and it was represened to him that Pilkington’s were putting up the price in consequence of tho preference which bars existed. Mr Aitkcu said tho cause of the British combination was for self protection against American, B>lgian, and German glass. Mr Hardio said that Belgian glass was much cheaper than British. He nrred that preference should be given British manufacturers. Ho asserted that glass of British make was cheaper now than ever before. The Hon. Millar said he would oinsider the question when dealing with the preferential tariff. Mr Barber said they wore not keeping faith with the utterances of the Premier in England, as they were reducing the duty on glass to foreigners by 3s per hundred feet, ami to English manufacturers only 3s. Tho Premier said ho had never made a statement that he would support any English syndicate, which would have a monopoly of the glass trade in New Zealand, and penalise people by reason of the extra cost that would ho made in the erection of buildings. Tho member tor Newtown, added, had taken no notice of the amount of preference that ha 1 been granted British manufacturers when making his dedneClass 9 was agreed to unaltered. At Class 10, item fancy gciods and tws, also sporting, gaining, and athletic requisites not otherwise enumerated, including billiard tables and billiard requisites, hair and toilet combs, 20 per cent — Mr Massey asked what was the Minister’s reason for reducing billiard tables from 25 to per BS £ Millar explained that billiard tables hail previously entered under yariousihcadiiistf, fancy goods, cloth, slate, etc. Billiard tables also came ill as dining tables, ami it was desirable to bring billiard tables under quo heading, Ft Hardio pleaded for cheap toys. Mr Heko urged that playing -cards should be prohibited so that locp.l industry could benefit. Mr Fisher urged that as greenstone could only be cut and polished in Germany, unxuonuted greenstone should bo allowed to enter free, so ns to benefit jewellers, who could mount tho stones here. The Hon. Miller said the suggestion would defeat tho object of tho duty. There were a number or greoustone cutters in tiie colony; in fact all tho greenstone ornaments presented to tho Duke of York were locally cut aud mounted. If jewellers desired to send their greenstone to Germany to be’ cut and polisi.eci, then they must be prepared to pay duty on return. Mr Seddon said representative jewellers who had Minister had stated that local cuttera wore only able to make two designs, heart and bar. Further, they wore very crude and wasteful in their work, whereas cutters in Birmingham and Germany, done this class of work for years, were able ’to finish the articles without undue waste. He urged that unmounted greenstone should be allowed in free. . , . The Hon. Millar said tho duty would uot in any way interfere with the export of greenstone, but ho was opposed to admii tnig unmounted greens tone duty free. Fiio «oae.. was, got in the- colony and there were men capable of cutting it- here, *so he did not sco ij should bd admitted free. Mr Fisher urged that unmounted stone he admitted at' SO percent, aud a higher duty placed on mounted greenstone. . , The Hon. Millar, quoting a local jeweller woo had appealed for the removal of duty, said tho head office of tills firm was in Germany, and lie sent bis stone to bo cut and polished. . . , Mr Guinness said it was inconsistent to admit mounted aud unmounted ■ reenstono at the one late, it stone was allowed in free it Would provide work for a number 01 jewellers. ' ■ ! Mr Seddon moved an amendment to" place unmounted greoustone on the free list. ' . ' This was negatived »y to Mr Aitken urged that magic lantorus she aid ho placed ou fcho iice list, as they wore used for educational purposes. Mr Wilford said that as films tor cinematographs were on tho free list ho considered that slides for magic lanterns should be admitted free. He moved an amendment to ‘ exclude magic lantern slides from tho 30 per cent duty, with fi view to i-heir being placed ou the free list when under discussion. Mr Millar accented tho aniemU la -nt. which was agreed to. Mr Maurter moved an ameunmeut to place sensitised post cards on tho frei list.

Negatived by-IC. to 17. Mr Hardio moved to omit tec following paragraph from pictnrcs, buntings, etc, 20 por cent: ;Note, any painting, drawing or photograph iii any medium having a vamo 101 duty exceeding £5 shall bo assessed for duty at £5, pins the values o| tun frame and mountings, it any, ana plus the value of tho canvas or otiai material upon which such painting, drawing or photograph is made. He said the Minister was taxing the poor man’s boots, but was allowing the wealthy man’s pictures_ iu practically free under this provision. Mr Tanner supported the amendment, which was accepted by Mr Millar, and agreed to on the voices. Mr Massey urged time preference be granted watches of British manu-

facture. , , Mr Guinness maintained that _ n preference was granted to British manufactured watches it would mean that they would got some cheap yyutohes, similar to Germap and Swiss watches. He added that it Would lie ’carrying out the intention qf this Government to grant preference to Britain. Many watches from Swiss, German and American manufacturers were not what they wore represented, to be, aiid we should grant preference to British manufacturers, who placed the proper material in the watches. ' Wgtches, 20 per cent, was agreed to unaltered. At paper hangings, which are at Jo per cent until the end of the year, and thereafter free~

Mr Aithen said these paperbangiugs could lie charged as cheap hero as in the Old Country, and he did , not think exemption from duty I would in any way lessen the cost or I erection o| Any building. Ho uxfeml ■ that if it was intended to bring tiiesc I papers in free, they should do so im- | mediately, as tho repapering or ■ houses was" always done In the B spring. He moved to retain the ■ bfogatived by 50 to 11, ■ • The House then rose.