PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8921, 14 September 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Legislative Council

For Press Association. AVumjnoton, September 13.

Tho Council met at 2.30. The Supreme Court Tractico ami Procedure Acts Amendment Bill ( Attoruoy-Cxeueral) was read a first time. . Tho Rotorua Town Bill Avas road a third time and passed. Tho Apiaries Bill was committed, reported unamended, and passed. The Police OU'enccs Act Amoudmout|Bill (to regulate boxing contests)’ was put through all stages and passed. The Pure Food Bill was further considered in Committee.

At clause 23 (onus of proof), tho Attorney-General moved the following substitution for tho original clause When any food or drug is sold it shall bo deemed to bo sold for human consumption or use unless the contrary is proved. ’ ’ Tho general penalty clause was amended by limiting tho lino to £2O. The Attorney-General moved a now clause, making it an offence to sell bread except by weight, with a proviso excepting such particular classes of broad as tho Governor may by regulation provide. After discussion tho AttorneyGeneral moved, in order to exempt small goods such as rolls, that tho proviso should apply to all bread under 21bs weight. Tho amendment was carried and the now clause was added to the Bill. A new clause was inserted by tho Attorney-General making this Act apply (so far as were applicable) to tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. A further now clause was inserted, making inspectors and analysts under tho Adulteration Prevention Act inspectors and analysts under this Act. Tho Bill was reported as amended. The Tohunga Suppression Bill was put through its final stages. Tho Council rose at 4.20.

House of Representatives. The House mot at 3.30. Amendments made by the Council to the Rotorua Town Bill were agreed to. The Foreign Tribunals Bill, which has already been passed by the Council, was passed through Committee stages without amendment. The Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill, from the Council, was committed.

Objection was raised to the ecu - tralisation of registration of chattels provided under clause 4, which read: “Mo instrument shall he registered in any provincial in pursuance of section 4 of the principal Act except with the registrar whose office is situated within that district, in one of tho cities or boroughs following, that is to say, Auckland, Now Plymouth, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Hokitika, Christchurch, and Invercargill.” Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Tim am, and Oamaru were added to the clause.

The Methylated Spirit Bill was committed. At clause 7, which provides that every person who commits an offence is liable to a penalty of £IOO, Mr Laureiisou moved to strike out £IOO, with a view to inserting £so.—Negatived on tho voices.

Tho House adjourned at 5.30. Tho House resumed at 7.30. The amendments made by the Council to the Tohuuga Suppression Bill were agreed to. Tho House went into Committed of Ways and Means. Mr James Allen objected to the insertion of the item “raw. cotton; 4d her lb.” He contended that the tax would kill a young industry, which was trying to open out a now market for mixed cotton and woollen goods, which wore not intended to compete with pure woollen goods. This mixture of cotton and wool was in- no way shoddy, but was manufactured to give a cheap article to the people. So long as the goods were marked as mixtures of wool and cotton, lie urged that tho industry should bo assisted, as there was a demand for tho goods, and some larger woollen mills „were making these mixed articles. After a lengthy discussion, Mr Ell moved that the item ‘‘raw cotton, 4d par lb,”- be struck out with a view to raw cotton being loft on tho free list. On a division the amendment was defeated and tho duty retained. Paporhaugings are placed on tho free list as from October 31st, 1907, instead of December 31st, 1907.

Engines and machines for mining purposes are, under tho resolutions proposed, to be replaced on the 5 per cent list.—Agreed to. New item—lead headed nails, 20 per cent ad valorem—Agreed to. In'Class E—new item, ‘‘galvanising baths, wielded,” agreed to. The resolutions were agreed to.

The Hon Millar then moved to recommit the Bill for the purpose of inserting three new clauses. The Minister moved a;now clause (12a). to meet tho case of contracts of sale made between importers and purchasers in New Zealand prior to July 17th, at a price including duty payable, in accordance with the tariff in force at the date of such contract. The clause provided—(a) that if goods had been entered before the passing’ of the Act and duty had been paid thereon in 'excess ‘ of that in force at the date of contract, the Collector, if satisfied that the goods had been delivered in pursuance of such contract, may allow a refund of such excess; (b) if the goods had not been entered before tho passing of the Act, but before November Ist next, the Collector, if satisfied of the bona fldes, may allow such goods to be admitted at the rate of duty in force at the date of such contract. i

The House adjourned at 12.45 a.m.