HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2653, 21 September 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES BILL.

Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. He deprecated any discussion on the abstract questions of free trade and protection over this Bill, and although he felt bound to admit that in many respects our tariff departed from free trade principles, yet neither it or the proposed amendment was intended to be protectionist. The proposal to impose a duty of 2d per ib on hams and bacon was made more for sanitary than fiscal purposes, as it was felt desirable to discourage the importation of these articles from America when producers were seeking a new market. France and Germany had forbidden the American meatas unwholesome. With a direct subsidised steam service with America he almost feared the duty was not high enough. The distillation clause had been introduced on the recommendation of the Local Industries Committee. At this late period of the session, however, he did not think there would be sufficient time to give the subject all the consideration it demanded. Under these circumstances he would not object to the clauses relating to distillation being struck out. Mr Gisborne thought that the thin end of the protection wedge was being introduced by the proposed tariff. He fully recognised the importance of encouraging local industries, but they should remove the duties on the raw material, and even give a bonus on the local production, and not as proposed by the Bill, impose a protective duty. The subject was a large one, and it was to be regretted the Bills had not been introduced at an earlier date. Mr Hurathouse advocated the imposition of a higher rate than that proposed on hams and bacon, which he contended would have the effect of preventing the importing of diseased meat in the colony. He also supported the increased duty on jams, Ballance spoke in favor of the tariff being more a protective one, and condemned the bonus system as being beneficial for only one or two individuals.

Sir William Fox spoke at some length against the introduction of protectionist fallacies under the guise of encouraging and promoting local industries. Dr Wallis condemned the practice of constantly changing the tariff, and the Bill before the House, he maintained, tended in the direction of a protective policy. In Committee, on a motion that the impost of 2d per lb on bacon and hams be struck out, Major Atkinson explained that the object of the impost was to place an impediment in the way of importing possibly diseased bacon and hams from America. As showing the proportion of the import trade in these articles, he stated that in 1879 the total value imported was £650, the next year it was £2OOO, and last year it had risen to the enormous sum of £15,000. Sir George Grey argued that if there was any fear of diseased meat being imported, they could exclude the importation of such meat without the necessity for an impost of this kind. The item was passed as printed by 31 to 19.

Mr Fulton proposed that the item “Jams, jellies, marmalade and preserves,. Hd per pound,” bo left at the present rate of Id per pound. He suggested that the duty should be taken off sugar, and the property tax allowed to remain as it was. That would do much to encourage the local manufacture of jams, &c. This and other items were passed as printed. Major Atkinson himself moved that the clause offering encouragement to distillation be struck out, as the question was au important one, and demanded more consideration than the House had time to give it. The clause was struck out by 41 to 16.

PROPERTY TAX. The Property Tax Bill was read a third time and passed. LEASEHOLDERS QUALIFICATION. The Premier made his promised statement regarding the amendment made on the motion o£ Sir George Grey in the Leaseholders Qualification Bill, that no elector should vote in more than two electorates. Mr Hall said he did not think the practical effect o£ the amendment would be very great, but it was obviously out of place in this Bill and it was wrong to introduce it. But the mover had insisted on it, and had expressed his determination to persevere with it. Under the circumstances he saw that it was impossible to carry the Bill without admitting an amendment foreign to it, so he was compelled to admit that the Bill must be dropped, and Sir George Grey had defeated the leasehold franchise. Sir George Grey did not consider himself fairly treated by Government dropping the Bill instead of going back to Committee with it for reconsideration. He understood that Government would agree to accept a limit of three votes, or that the former position would be retained until a limit was settled. CONSOLIDATED STOCK. The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, considered in Committee, read a third time and passed. PENSIONS BILL, A massage was received from the Legislative Council, stating that the position of the Pensions Bill was so unusual and complicated that they had referred it to a Special Committee, to search for precedents and report to the Council without delay. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Mr Hall, in conformity with the promise made during the early part of the night, stated that the Government proposed dropping frotn the Order Paper:—Pensions Validation ; Education Reserves Act Amendment; Leaseholders Qualification ; Counties Act Suspension ; Fisheries ; Friendly Societies; Inspection of Machinery ; East Coast Land Claims Settlements Acts Repeal ; Banks and Bankers Act 1880 Amendment. NATIVE MATTERS, The West Coast Settlement Reserves, Native Lands Act Amendment, and Native Reserves Bills were considered in Committee, passed through all stages, and read a third time. Before the House rose Major Tewheoro referred to the reports published in the newspapers about the state of native affairs on the West Coast. He did not believe in them. He would not say to Government to cease being careful, but at the same time he did not think there was any wellfounded grounds for alarm. They should, however, look carefully after Te Whiti. He believed the alarm was got up by Europeans for their own purposes. They wanted troops sent up there, because Taranaki was really supported by the expenditure on soldiers.

Mr Tomoana thought Government should prevent newspapers from pub lishing statements which were likely to alarm both Europeans and Maoris. Mr Tawhai agreed that the newspapers had grossly exaggerated the facts, the object being to get troops sent up to the district. Government should not be alarmed by these reports. Mr Hall asked the native members if they had any special information from which they spoke. Major Te Wheoro said he did not wish to throw Government off its guard, but he had been informed the reports in question were unfounded. He would have been sure to hear of it if any cause for alarm existed. Had there been real cause for alarm the European settlers would not have continued on their land in the district. He had telegraphed to the district, and would had been informed if there was anything serious. At the same time Government, without being alarmed, should be on its guard. Mr Hall said Government was not alarmed. They knew what was being said and done ac Parihaka. They were on their guard and nothing more, as the} knew they were strong enough to deal with any emergency, therefore they were not alarmed. If trouble came they knew how to deal with it, but they would not meet it half way. He was sorry the Maori members had attributed the alarm to a desire to get expenditure in the district. Government had information proving that was not correct. Government trusted to the good sense of the Natives to prevent any disturbance, and every precaution was being taken to prevent trouble arising. At 2.40 the House adjourned till to-day.

THIS DAY. The House met at 11 o’clock. A MISUNDERSTANDING. _ Sir George Grey said he wished to make a personal explanation upon the subject of the Leasehold Qualification Bill, which the House had ordered to be discharged. He had consented to the Committee beinp got rid of by reporting progress, on the distinct understanding that the Premier had promised Mr Saunders and Mr Seddon that he would accept the three votes for property holders. He thought the Premier ought to give effect to the promise so made. Mr Saunders said he first hearjl from Mr Seddon that the Premier intended to accept the three votes. The Premier entirely denied that he made an unqualified promise to Mr Seddon.

Mr Seddon said he went to the Premier and asked him if he would not be prepared to move. The Premier said he saw no objection and it would perhaps be well to do it. Subsequently the Premier said he wished for time to consider the subject. The Premier again denied that he made any unqualified promise. Messrs Seddon and Saunders said they had no doubt that Sir George Grey had dropped further opposition believing the Premier had made that promise. DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD. Before proceeding to the Orders of the Day Mr Hall said I think it is only right that some allusion should be made to the information contained in this morning’s newspapers of the death of the President of the United States. I am sure that we all feel that this is a most melancholy event, and one we should not pass over in silence, the death of the head of the first American community, which we all agree is associated with us by ties of kindred and community of interest and large sympathy in the working of free institutions. There is perhaps no country in the world in which the British Empire ought to have, and I believe has, a more deep-set sympathy than with the United

States of America, and an event of this kind is calculated to draw that bond of sympathy closer. We deplore this event not only in the loss of our kinsman in the United States, but it brings to an untimely' end a great; career by a most cruel fate. He was a most distinguished man, not only for great natural talent but lor that quality which distinguishes men in the United States when they have raised themselves by their own ability, by their own conduct, and by their own hard work from the lowest step of the social ladder to the highest. That is a feature among statesmen of the United States more than in any other country, and we have no more distinguished instance of this than in the case of President Garfield. Therefore we join with our kinsmen in the United States in sympathy for the loss they have sustained. These few words have been said without reflection, but they will I am sure express the feelings not only of the members of this House bat of all colonists.

Sir George Grey asked if the Premier intended to move a resolution.

The Premier said he thought the remarks he had made would be sufficient to express the feeling of the House.

Sir George Grey said —Sir, I beg to concur in what has fallen from the Premier, and E would move that a Committee, consisting of the Premier, Mr Macandrew and myself be appointed to draw up a paper expressive of sympathy with the people of America on this occasion. Sir, a great and good man has passed away, and his death is attended by this remarkable circumstance, that he, the ruler of about 50,000,000 people speaking our own language, rose to be ruler from the very humblest position in life. It is a remarkable circumstance that the death of a man of that kind should be known all over the world within a few hours, and that many millions of people should deplore the loss of a man who by birth was not clothed in those attributes which usually command the sympathy of men. I think, Sir, we would do well to show that even in this remote part of the Empire deep sympathy is felt by the whole community. Mr Macandrew concurred in what had been said, and suggested that a telegram should be sent. The motion was then agreed to. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL. Mr Hall moved that the House agree to the Council’s amendments in the Bailway Construction' and Land Bill. He did not altogether like some of them, but at the present stage of the session he thought it best to accept them. Some discussion took place on the amendments, but members pointed out that the Bill would be lost altogether if they were not accepted, and ultimately they were agreed to, some on division and some on the voices. The Railway Authorisation Bill was considered in Conmittee, read a third time and passed. SUPPLIES. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Bill. Mr Montgomery insisted that the new Parliament should meet at the earliest possible moment, and would therefore oppose clause 4, which proposed to grant supplies for three months beyond the close of the financial year. Mr Thomson agreed with Mr Montgomery. Mr Gisborne said that the Government had been unable to carry its measures, and that they were bound to assume it had not the confidence of the country. In that case it was necessary that the question should be finally determined after the elections at the earliest possible moment. Mr Rolleston said they had instructions to remodel the Civil Service and make reductions of £30,000. That could not be done in a day, and Government was not going to stand still and let the elections be carried against them. In that case it was absolutely necessary that they should have time.

The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment.