PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 September 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, 10th SEPTEMBER. I E LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 1 ] By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. '' The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ' The following Bills were introduced ijy • the Attorney-General and read a first time: Marine Insurance Act 1907, Statutes Repeal Act 1907, Animals Prolection Act 1907, Police Offences Act 1907 (No. 2). THE TARIFF BILL. The Attorney - General moved the second reading of the Tariff Bill, prefacing his remarks by expressing the opinion that a man who undertook a complete revision of the tariff required to take his courage in both hands, and to be a man of great patience and industry. These qualifications had been manifested by Mr. Millar, who had achieved great work. He then proceeded to outline the provisions of the Bill. The Hon. Mr. Rigg agreed with the Attorney-General in the excellent work done by Mr. Millar in piloting the tariff through the other House, but lie would have liked to see the Minister take a stronger stand with regard to the imposition of protective duties. He quoted statistics to show that about £2,000,000 worth of goods were imported into the colony which could be manufactured here. Customs duties should be increased to such an extent that the local article would supplant the imported. If they wanted a rich country they ought to have a manufacturing country, and this was to be done by encouraging industries. With regard to preferential trade,! he was one of those who did not approve it in the form adopted in this country. There was no reason why we should be called upon to bolster up British manufacturers and pay an additional price for certain commodities for their benefit. The Hon. Mr. Beehan considered the tariff a marvellous performance for a new Minister, who was to be congratulated. He held that local industries ought to be encouraged in every possible way.

The Hon. Mr. Paul thought the effect I of the tariff would be to stimulate industries and generally to improve trade. Still, with Mr. Bigg, he felt that some further measure of protection might have been given local industries. He, however, recognised that neither freetrade nor protection would solve the labor problem, and the labor problem was the most important of all. Ho hoped the Government would recognise that in taxation, equality of sacrifice was the goal to be aimed at. He was thankful for remissions made on articles of general consumption. With regard to woollen goods, he regretted the Government had not stuck to the original proposal to put 8d per lb upon raw cotton, to preserve the purity of our woollen manufactures. He hoped the Government would at the earliest possible moment introduce a Shoddy Bill to protect consumers against Inferior goods.

The Hon. Mr. McCardle thought it would be a mistake to take any drastic step as suggested for the purpose of increasing colonial industries. It was desirable they should proceed steadily. He was satisfied the tariff was based on fair lines, and the Bill bad his entire approval. The Hon. Mr. Anstey said if he had had a vote on the question of remissions of duty he would likely have voted against so large an amount being remitted. The £300,000 could have been better used for opening up and developing the country. He disagreed with the Hon. Mr. Paul's remarks about wool and shoddy, and thought so long as goods were branded adequately as to their constituents no injury could resalfc to the woollen industry. THE LATE HON. W. KELLY.

The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. Mr. George. The Attorney-General announced the death of the Hon. W. Kelly, and in a few words of eulogy of deceased moved that the Council place on record its appreciation of liis services and express condolence with the family. The Hon. G. McLean seconded. The Hon. B. Harris and the Hon. T. Thompson, with tears streaming down their cheeks and choking utterance, inferred to their private and public relations with their late brother member. The Hon. Mr. Beehan also spoke feelingly on the sterling qualities of the deceased, and the motion was carried. The Council adjourned at 4.45 as a mark of respect to the deceased legislator.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Laurenson asked the Minister for Customs, without notice, as to whether it was a fact that the Customs expert had the right to recommend when tines should be inflicted, and whether the same officer received portion of the fines so indicted. Mr. Laurenson said he had been informed this was so, from a reliable source. He further asked the Minister whether he had taken any stops to terminate the Customs expert's agreement. Mr. Millar stated that Mr. Laurenson's information was incorrect, as the fines were imposed by the Secretary, and the Customs expert received po portion of the fines, but under his original agreement he was entitled to receive portion of the fines recovered in a court of law, but he had not drawn any money from this source for some years. The total amount the expert had received from this source was £232 during his term of twenty years. He (Mr. Millar) had given notice to terminate the expert's agreement on 30th June next. Mr. Massey asked the Premier when he proposed to go into the inquiry ia the matter of travelling allowances. The Premier stated he proposed to refer the case of the Customs expert to the Commerce Committee next week. Mr. Massey said he understood the whole matter of travelling allowances was to be inquired into, and not only the Customs expert. The Premier said the general question of travelling allowances was a matter for the Executive, and he did not propose to refer that to the committee. Mr. Gray said he understood the whole matter of travelling allowances was to be inquired into. He had another case of an officer drawing a large travelling i allowance, but he did not propose to give I his name until he had inquired further ( into the matter. He added that a feeling of unrest prevailed, and he reiter-1 ated the statement that he believed the Premier had given an assurance to the House that the whole system of travelling allowances would be inquired into. The Premier stated that whatever he had said he would do he was prepared to do.'

The Methylated Spirits Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 8, which gives power to a Customs officer to enter and search buildings reasonably suspected of containing methylated spirits which has been or is being or intended to be purified in breach of the Act caused considerable discussion, several members urging that the Customs officer was given too much power. Mr. Massey moved an amendment that it should be made compulsory of the Customs officer to first obtain a searchwarrant, y

; Mr Millar replied that the obta-ning j of a search-warrant occasioned (Ida v.' and would spoil the whole object of the ■ Bill. A Customs officer would not be allowed to make a search except by authority of the Collector, and the responsibility for the search would thus be on the Department. Eventually Mr. Massey withdrew his amendment', and Mr. Barclay moved an amendment providing that the officer making a search should be first authorised in writing by a Collector of Customs. This was a "reed I to on the voices, and the remaining clauses were agreed to without amend" ment. yflie Coalmines Act' Amendment Bill No. 2 was further considered in committee. Progress was reported and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. THE LATE HON. W. KELLY. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Premier announced the death of the Hon. William Kelly at Auckland. He then read a detailed statement of deceased's services to New Zealand. He stated deceased would always be remembered as a very genial and good man. He had suffered illness for a long time, nnd_ he (the Premier) said he was voicing the House in expressing sympathy towards deceased's family, and in moving that the House adjourn in sympathy until to-morrow. He moved that ' this House records its high sense of the '• faithful services rendered to New Zea- { land by the late Hon. W. Kelly, and the i loss this country has sustained by his ! death, and respectfully tenders to his < relatives the assurance of its sincere ( sympathy with them in their bereave- , ment. Mr. Massey eulogised the deceased '< statesman, and regretted his loss, Ho'f

was, he said, one of the typical settlers of the colony in the early days. He had looked well after the welfare of his constituents, and did his duty to the colony, and had not made an enemy during Ilia long connection with Parliament. Ho seconded the motion. Mr. Herrics also expressed his regret at the decease of the lion, gentleman, and stated deceased was an institution in the Bay of Plenty, which district he had represented faithfully and well. Mr. Flatman also spoke in eulogistic terms of deceased's services and qualities. The House adjourned at 7.40 p.m. until ! to-morrow.