THE TARIFF.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8921, 14 September 1907, Page 3

THE TARIFF.

Iu the House on Thursday on the item ‘ 1 Tea, iu bulk, viz., m pack.ure.s of iilb or over net weight of ten” (free), a duty of 2d per lb is iuposed on packages of less weight thiii alb, iu order to encourage the packing of tea here, Mr a»T■ Alien moved to reduce the weight of package to be admitted free to lib, as the smaller packages were mostly bought by the poorer classes. After some discussion during wl'dtdi it was shown that the duty is being imposed iu order that some persons may bo employed iu the colony packing teas, the amendment was lost. . , . , Insecticides suitable for agricultural uses and tree washes were placed on the free list. A motion by Mr Massey to place all agricultural machinery on the free list was defeated, but the Minister agreed to place on the free list parts peculiar to the manufacture or repair of agricultural machiuerv and implements. Ho said it was'better to admit them free at ouco than charge a duty and refund

On tlio motion of the Minister, various items used in the manufacture of bicycles were placed on the free list, to encourage the building of bie.vclcs in the colony. This, the Minister explained, would be equivalent to 10s per bicycle. The Minister made it clear that dairying machinery came in free, including milking machines, hut the vacuum pump attached to the latter would he dutiable because it could be used for other purposes. Mr Massey moved to put on the free list milking machines and all parts thereof.—Rejected by 33 votes to 81. Mr Guinness said two or three nights ago the Housa expunged from the 5 per cent duty engines and machines for mining purposes by 33 votes to 30, with a view to placing it on the free list. In order to give effect to that amendment it was now necessary to move accordingly. After some discussion the amendment was rejected by 34 to 33. For amendment (33). —Aitkea, Alison, J. Allen, Bollard, Colvin, Duncan, \V T . Fraser. Guinness, Hcrrics, Lang, Lethbridge, Lewis, T. McKenzie, Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Mills, Okey, Poland, Reid, Remington, Seddou. Against (34)—E. G. Allen, Arnold, Barber, Bnddo, Ell, Fisher, Flatman, Fowlds, A. L. D. Fraser. Graham, Gray, Hall, Hauan, Hogan, Hogg, Houston, Izard, Kidd, Laurcuson, Lawry, Millar, McGowan, McLachlan, McNab, Parata, Poole, Sidey, Stallworthy, Stewart Tanner, Thomson, Ward, Wittv, Wood. Pairs.—.—For: Dillon, Benner, Ross, Grcousl-ido, Field. _ McPherson. Against: Barclay, Kgata, Carroll, Davey, Wilford, Stevens, Upon the motion of the Minister, meters for gas, water and electricity, where used for household supply, and testing sots, and motor engines (or bicycles, were included in the free list.

sir Lang moved to add spraying pumps for horticultural and agricultural purposes to the freelist, hut this was opposed by the Minister, who said hand-pumps could bo made in the colony in a' manner quite equal to imported pumps if a small amount of protection was given. All sorts of things were claimed as spray pumps, but to meet the wishes of the members in some degree lie would include all spray pumps not being syringes. On the item “chassis for motor cars or ’buses,” the Minister moved to substitute for “oars or ’buses” the word “vehicle,” which would thou cover chassis for tramcars. — This amendment was adopted. Replying to Mr Okcy, the Minister of Customs stated that tiio whole question of encouraging oil-boring companies was now being considered by the Government.

Upon the Minister’s motion the preferential duty of 10 per cent in favour of British-made motal wire, barbed fencing wire and fencing staples was struck out. The 10 per cent preferential treatment for British-made flour milling and oil refining and boring machinery was also ' deleted from the Bill upon the Minister’s motion.