PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 193, 1 September 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

(PBB PEBBB ASSOOIATIi)*. ♦ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday August 32. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. VALUATION OF LAND. Tho Hon. W. 0, Walker moved the Second reading of the Government Valuation of Land Act Amendment Bill. Mr. Ormoud consddorod that the Stipendiary Magistrate* wero unsuitable poisons to decido objections to tho valuations. Tho second reading was agreed to and tho Bill was referred to a committee consisting of Hon. Bolt, Johnston, McLean, Ormond, Stevens, W. 0. Smith, Pitt, A. L. Smith, and W. 0. Walker. The Supreme Cumt Judge Appointment Bill was passed through committee without amendment. Tho Council rosa at 3.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Fuiday, August 30. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Tho Bill to amend the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act introduoed by the Governors message was rea,d the first time. THE STOKE ENQUIKY. A statement was made that tho evidence in the Stoke enquiiy would be in the hands of members to-night, The uvideuce would be handed to the Commissioner of Polio.', and it would be for him to say whether steps should be taken in way of a prosecution. In the muantima the Brothers implicated in the charges of undu« punishment had been retired from the Institution, and the Government would insist upon the Institution in future being conducted under Government regulations. In reply to Mr. T. Mackenzie, who asked if any steps had been taken in -tlse, meantime to arrest the Brothers, the "-Premier said that was a mattir for the poiiee to deal with. CU.VI'OMB DUTIES BILL. The House ti.en went into Committee on the Customs Duties Amendment Bill. Mr. Witheford asked if the reduction in Customs would result in tho stopping of the prosecution of public works, if so, he could not support the Bill. Mr. Ward replied that ample provision had been made for the public works, apart from the reductions in tariff. Mr. Monk said he believed that in the north of Auckland at any rate people will not relish the reductions in the tariff if they were to be made at the expense of the roads. He hoped Ministers would give an idea of the amount they intended to expend on roads md railways th-re. The question of a differentiation tariff between British and foreijfu manufacturers was discussed.

On tho item matches, in thoscliedulo, Mr Graham moved to insert "wautb of British manufacturer" after matches. Lost by 37 to 27.

Mr. Buddo made no secret of hi-1 intentention to ecdeavour to close up I the match factories as an unwholesome industry, and moved that the duty on plaid vestas be 9d instead of Is. Mr, Graham pointed out that under 1 ho t)J tarilf it would mill uva'i b dofforenthtiou of 40 per cant., and if a local industry could not live undorsuch i tirifl' the swner it cjllapssd the better.

Mr. W. Fraser, although a free trader, would not be a party to injuring in indusuy that had been established aader tho inducement of a protective -.mill.

The Premier painted out tint the reduction would simply have the effect of closing the factory. Mr. J. Hutcheson cjuld not support the reduction, although on principle he was a free trader. The industry was here and the difficulty with tho employers had been adjusted, while such sanitary precautious were now taken that it could scarcely be said the manufacture was unhealthy. A reduction in duty would simply mean flooding the colony with cheap but inferior foreign matches. « Mr. Meredith supported the amendment.

j Mr. E ! l thought the use of white phosphorus in tho manufacture ot matches should be piohibited and wooden matches encouraged. On a division tho duty of Is was retained by 44 to 11. On patent medicines Mi\ Collins moved to insert that ingredients be specified on cover. This was loit by 38 to 14, The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. In Committee on the Customs Duties Bill, Mr. Bollard moved that tho duty on patent medicines do not como into force until Is* January, 1901. Mr. Ward considered such a proposal would bo wrong in principle as applied to one item only of the tariff proposal, but it might be applied to the whole schedule. Mr, T. Mackenzie did not think the merchants would lose such a great deal over tho new tariff coming into force at such short notice, and remarked that those who made thousands of pounds by tho increase in the tariff in 1895 did not think of returning their profits to tho Treasury. Mr. Atkinson agreed that post date should not apply to one item only; but to tho whole schedule, It was a mistako to say that loss would be confined to wholes-do houses. Many retail shops holding considerable stocks would also be sufferers.

Mr. McGowan contended that if it was right to give notice of a reduction in tlie tariff it was also right that notice should be given of an increase. J Mr. Ward pointed out that as the 'Jaw now stood in case of contracts entered into for the supply of goods ali'ected by increase or decrease of duty the vendor was protected by a provision, that the extra duty should be added to, or a decrease subtracted from thii contract price. Mr. .Fisher while rogrotting thai notice of reduction had not been (•iven. rocgnised that it was now too late to e.l'.'i't tuav object,

Mr, fcSeuuou said the uiMiiga must 3 I

7 —^ bo dealt with purely upon bniinaoi principles. Thtre was do precedentfor \ giving notice either of or an increase in customs duties, (■ Mr. J. Hutcheson doubted, looking at the cost of freights, if it would pty to ship kerosene to Australia, reshipitJt and then claim a rebate. ,M Mr. Bollard's motion was lost by 91 to 2:1. \1 Mr. 11. McKoDzie moved to «trik»l out the item of 5 per cent, on etea&a engines, and paits thereof, iadudiag y boilers therefor, imported specially for'B mining, gold saving, or dairying pTOfJj poses, with a view to putting them on :;, 1 the free list.

Mr. J. Allen supported the amend* ment. He asserted that the whole of the foundries were chock full of orders, and people were wanting dredges baUb but could not get them within a reasons ab'e time, and had either to go outeid* the colony for them or do without

Mr. Seddon said it was not correct to say that dredges could sot be sup> plied in the colony in a reasonable time, and that he knew of foundries that would be willing to take orders at th* present time. The Houeo adjourned at 10 pjn.