PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 September 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. | ! THURSDAY'S SITTING. - | ' After midnight the item "Metal wire, 1 all kinds, plain metal cordage not other-1 wise enumerated (not being gold or silver) also barbed fencing wire and fencing staples," was struck out of the preferential list. | The preferential list was passed af 2.S a.m. The Bill was reported and the House adjourned at 2.10 a.m. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ' (By Telegraph—Per Press Association). ! Wellington, Last Night. ; The Council met at 2.3 p.m. The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill (Attorney- . General), was read a first time. The Rotorua Town Bill was read a i third time and passed. > The Attorney-General moved that the • House, at rising; adjourn until Wednes- , day next.—Carried. , Tho Apiaries Bill was (committed, - reported unamended, and passed. , Tho Police Oll'ences Act Amendment , Bill (to regulate boxing contests) was . put through all its stages and passed. The Pure Food Bill was further considered in committee. At clause 23 s (onus of proof), the Attorney-General moved that the following he substituted for the original clause:—"When any food or drug is sold it shall be deemed j to be sold for human consumption or s use unless the contrary is proved." The ' general penalty clause was amended by limiting the fine to £2O. " The Attorney-General moved a new clause making it an offence to sell bread except hy weight, with a proviso ex-1 cepting such particular classes of bread as the Governor may by regulation provide. Replying to the Hon. Mr Paul, the Attorney-General said what would* be; provided for in the regulations would a be fancy bread. " The Hon. Mr Jenltinson pointed out 1 that three-fourths of the bread eoM ; > would be fancy. Tho Hon. Mr Paul moved to strike e out the proviso. *• The Hon. Mr Baldy pointed out that' 0 bakers could describe all oread as. fancy, i Xne Attorney-General moved, in order '• to exe-urpt small goods, such as rolls, »■ that the proviso should apply to all y bread under 21bs in weight. The Hon. Mr Paul accepted tho ami- ondment by the Attorney-General and e withdraw his motion. e The Hon. Mr Jenkineon contended n this would enaWo bakers who sold <t short-weight bread to escape, as where reputed 21b loaives wero short weight, e there would be no penalty. The amendment was carried, and the e new clause added to the Bill. )- A new clause was inserted by the Ati- torney-General making this Act apply r . (so far as the provisions are applicable) [. to tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. , a A further new clause was inserted it making inspectors and analysts under 's the Adulteration Prevention Act inspectors and analysts under tlu's Act. g The Bill was reported as amended I- The Tohunga Suppression Bill was put through its final stages, and the Couu- -- oil rose at 4.20. ;. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. o The House met at 2.30. The 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, passed through committee stages with--0 out amendment. ;. The Chattels Transfer Act Amend--1 "ment Bill from the Council was com- - mitted. " Objection was raised to centralisation i by tho registration of chattels provided ; under clause 4, which reads: "No in- ! strument shall he registered in any provincial district in porsnanco of section ' 4r '.,? f . ihe Principal Act, except situated within that district in one of the cities or boroughs following, that is to say Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier, Weihngton, Nelson, Blenheim, Hokitifca Chnstchurch and Invercargill." ' On the motion of the Hon. Mr McGowan, Gislorne was added to the clause. Mr Hanan urged that all towns where Supreme Courts were held should be constituted registration offices under the Bill. Several other members supported Mr Hanan. Mr Wood moved ftat Palmerston North be added to the clause.—Carried by 20 to 28. Mr Guinness urged that ni new clause should be drafted embracing Mr Hanan's suggestion and to provide for regulations by the Governor-in-Council . showing which counties should be embraced in the districts of the respective • towns. ' Mr Hogan moved to 'add Wanganui ! to the clause.—Carried by 28 to 25. , Timaru and Oamaru were inserted on the voices, and progress was reported The Methylated Spirit Bill was committed. At clause 9, which provides that evory person who commits n,n of- ' fence is liable to a penalty of £IOO Mr Laurenson moved to strike 'out • £IOO with a view to inserting '£so ) Negatived on the voices. The House adjourned' at 5.50. Tho House resumed at 7.30. ° The amendments made by the Council " to the Tohunga Suppression Bill were il agreed to, and the House went into Committee of Ways and Means. THE TARIFF. f

Mr Jas. Allen objected to insertion-oi the item raw cotton at 4d per 18. He contended that the tax would ktte „ | young industry which was trying f 0 open a new market for mixed cotton and woollen goods which were 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 (o I the people. So long as the goods were marked as mixtures of wool and cotton ho urged tlv,,t the industry should be assisted, as there was a demand for the goods, and some of the larger woollen mills were importing these mixed ar-

ih Miliar said representations had been made from mills representing £0 per cent of tile woollen industry. It ™ <***** by six of the largos "»«■ that Now Zealnad woollens id made a name u, the world's market, I mid that the name was Being ruined li« two mills which used cotton. If ihii practice continued, the woollen mill would eventually be i„ the same ps" turn as the mills i n Victoria, which had been ruined by this practice. He « serW that ha<! been sold ? s pure wool which contained 35 per cent SA n th ? , colon y- He contended that cotton should not be used in either ™ ? s or flannels. R„ gß were be ng en to the Old Country from this colony ;VKI lie maintained that it was in Ihe interest of the colony to restrict the use of cotton in woollen goods, and the duty of fourpencc per pound would haye a restricting influence, as with"{V reduction in the price of wool, it would I not lie a great advantage to use cot ton _ He was advised by his experts that , n some fabrics an admixture of cotton and wool made a better article ihe duty would nieet with the require-' mcnts of this class of article, and would not unfairly restrict the trade. Mr Ell defended the use of cotton 3 n woollen goods, as a better wearing nr tide could be produced suitable* for working people, and could be sold cheaper. He maintained that tweeds so made were far more valuable to workers .- At the same time he contended that no cotton, should be used mblankets or flannels.

Mr Barber said the Minister h a , V „.,,. mil all day that he desired to assist* local industries, hut in this instance he had, by placing a duty on raw cnttnn' enual to one hundred ner CO nt of its value, seriously penalised a young and rising industry. Materials 'containingmixtures of cotton and wool were being 1 imported under the 20 per tent flirty,» yet local manufacturers, who desired to' make this material, were taxed at th? commencement with a tax on. raw ma-', [ ferinl of one hundred per cent. He' pointed out that cotton yams could he imported nft 20 per cent, yet if manufacturers desired to start at the heglnnintr and manufacture these yarns (hey bad to pay one hundred per cent iduty on the taw material,

Mr Millar said in 1904 only 13201bs of aw cotton wore imported into the coo)ny; in 1905 this increased to 60,234 bs, aiiH in 1900 to 87,1321b5, and 90 per :ent of tins material had been use.3 or carding and sold as pure wool in ' ho form of flannels and blankets. Pre'ious to this date, he contended that er 30 years the woollen mills of the ntry bad ROjj PS practically without ho use of cotton. He added that very ittle raw cotton wan used in the mamiacture of tweeds, as cotton yarns were 1 ihicfly for this purpose. Mr Hanan said the cry of woollen nills in the past had been against' the mportation of shoddy, and' now some if thorn were asking facilities to make ,n article which they had previously ondemned. He urged that the colony hould seek to produce an honost aricle, and added that if they, deßired new roollen mills to start in the colony, hoy should place a duty on cotton so .s to allow of genuine articles being aanufacture'd instead of a shoddy article masquerading under the name of genune wool. Mr Laurenson contended that as far lossible we should koep out cotton, and ndeavor to retain the name of producng all wool, and nothing but wool, in iur manufactured article. He niain--ainod that a suit of clothes averaged ijbout 51bs in weight, and the effect- of »fr Ell's argument was that, if we reamed the duty, it would cost tho rorking man an additional flvepence on lis suit, or twopence on a pair of lants. Mr Ell said Mr Laureinson haU faJWd o allow for the additional wearing mality of tho mixed article. Mr Hardy contended that an article if pure wool would wear longer and letter than any onixture. He added hat the Petone arid Wellington mills nd made a reputation in the Home narket for their products, but shoddy .rticles that were being made |ia the olony were seriously jeopardising tie eputation of these and other New Zeaimd woollen mills. Mr Jas. Allen said if the law compeTTd mills to place on their products exctly what they contained, then Mr Milan's argument would fall to the ground. Ic did not object if even the per ceintige of tho mixtures was placed on the irticlos, but so long as cotton yarns veaj. imported, he contended that no;hvnip"Bliould be, placed in the way ot ;ho mixtures being manufactured here. fie added that tho demand lor taxing raw cotton was ojn attack on the youngar mills by the established mills. Mr Gray agreed with the Minister's proposas, -and would support him ff lie Jnade it sixpence. Mr Barber said that the large mill* of the colony imported large quantities of mixed goods, and ,he contended that it was the desire of theße large mills ta prevent similar goods" being manufactured locally in order that they might retain the profits on these imports. He added that it was the .result of represontatioins from these large mills that had influenced the Minister in taking raw cotton oil the free list. Mr Buddo, in supporting the Minister's proposals, said the woollen pro. ducts -of the colojiy had lnajle a reputation even in England, and they should strive to maintain that reputation. Mr Hogg contended that woollen articles were more serviceable for the peoplo than mixtures, and certainly were less dangerous than cotton and mixtures, which were highly inflammable, and had been the cause of (much "loss of child life. The Premier said the Government Bad already shown consideration for tho working classes {by conceding in cotton and linen piece goods £55,000. Strong representations had been made by the proprietors of six woollen mills that it was desirable to tax raw cotton in oriler to protect the woollen industry, fne . position was put to the Government that if some impost were not put' on cotton, it would seriously prejudice the future of purely woollen mills. There was aready a large percentage of cotton in flannels, rugs and blankets, and as this became known, then thi ß class of article would be largely imported from other countries which could produce it at a cheaper rate than New Zealand. The public would have to Be I protected against any combination to ruse the price of woollen goods in some other way than by taking the duty off cotton. If they placed all the mills on an equal footing the fittest would survive. The Government was animated by a sincere desire to help the woollen industry, and to see that the public did not buy goods made of cotton and wool mixed, under the impression tney were rmrchasing pure wool . Mr Massey contended tnat the only argument put fonvard in support of the proposals was that a majority of the proprietary woollen mills had asked for it. Majorities were not always, in Vjg opmmn right and in this instance it KM ll h ! m thEt ttere waa an attempt of the large mills to block the mailer nulls it 6C emed to him positively ntard to put a duty on 'raw niaterml required for the manufacture of a cheap line of mixed cotton anj woollen goods whilst at the same time 2Z Y re , al ! owing th * samo cl *«» of : goods to be imported. He urged tKat all goods should be stamped showing the percentage of cotton and wool con- : tamed a, the fabrics. Then the people ' would know exactly what they Tero ' He Ure6d that «"> Min- ' ister should place raw cotton on the ii'ee list.

The Hon Mr McGowan said the duty on raw cotton was likely to induce thl hi/ ?'• * hen the dut y ™<> a step in Mr Poole said he was going to sun port raw cotton, as it was f material' l«8dy med by the people. * MW.f ° 7 BaiJ he would support the Minister . proposals in order to encou.t the use of wool grown in the co-

Jf ?, m ° Ved that the "em "raw cotton 4d per lb" be struck out, wftTa cotton be^ieft'::^:

amendment was negatived by 35

Paperhangings are placed on the free .-^Slst^oW.ioor.instcafo? placed an the 5 per cent lisi-Igreel

£0 ™ n t Jf lt , om ' lead ~?* * nai >". 20 Per It a f valorem, Wrts agreed to.' P s * baths wrtiV I"™' 1 "™' )tem ' Salvonlsed id r,,r welded ' m,s "greed to. ) thJ Bin S" «° n mOTed io ««»>»«« » the Bill for the purpose of insert!..* '% throe new clauses. g 5 (lTAn^r 4 a aw <*«» (W A) to meet the case of contracts of sale ttwto between (importers and s 5 f^;; 8 '" Nel ? *«W prior to " July 17th at a price, including duty payable m accordance with the tariff ■ m force at the date of such contract « J*e clause prov.ded-(a) that if goods had been entered before the passing of * the Act, mt \ ( l„ty had boon there- . on in excess of that in force at the toe I "f the contract, the Collector ,if satis- » fled that the goods had been delivered m pursuance of such contract, may at-

I low a refund of such excess; (b) if the - goods had not been entered before the 1 passing of the Act, but (before Novem- ; ber Ist uext the Collector, if sali s fie<t . of the bona fides, may allow such Mods to be admitted at the rate of duty la force at the date of such" contract