PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE RESUMES TO-DAY. DEBATE ON TARIFF BILL. LONG DISCUSSIONS AHEAD. The House of Representatives meets at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The debate on the Tariff Bill will constitute the “piece de resistance” of the Parliamentary bill of fare this week, and perhaps also next week; if not, indeed, the week after. A discussion can be initiated on any or all of the 600 or so of “items” mentioned in the tariff; and though, especially with Christmas and New Year -looming so near at hand, it is not lively that bon. members will avail themselves to the full of the privileges which the standing orders of the “talking - shop” allow them, it is regarded as very certain that a considerable number of pages of Hansard will be filled, and many £6O worth (or hours) of Parliamentary time consumed before members have said all that they desire to say about the new tariff. Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller), chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party, intimated last week that he and his followers will put up a stiff fight and divide the House against all duties which they regard as likely to increase the cost of living. MAINTENANCE. The Maintenance Order (Facilities for Enforcement Bill) has been reported from the Statutes Revision Committee, with a provision for the appointment of officers to take proceedings for the recovery of moneys payable under maintenance orders, payment of which is at least 14 days overdue.

ELECTORAL CHANGES. The Boundaries’ Commission has issued details of the population in each electorate, according to the proposed new boundaries. It has allocated the city seats apparently on tie basis o-i a minimum population of 18,000, while the country constituencies have lower totals owing to the operation of the country quota. The new Waikato constituency has a population of 14,327, the Prime Minister’s electorate, Franklin, contains 15,735, while the smallest constituency, from a population viewpoint, is Clutha, containing 13,319 persona. ANTI-DUMPING LAW. A leading feature of the Customs Amendment Bill is clause 11, which enables a special duty, called a “dumping duty,” to be imposed for the protection of local industries. This duty may be levied in the case of goods imported into New Zealand, if the actual selling price of the goods to an importer is less than the current domestic value of such goods. Another sub-clause enables the Minister for Customs to impose the dumping duty if he is satisfied that imported goods have received a special railway rebate, a shipping •freight subsidy, or a special bounty. Another phase of dumping is defineu as the importation of goods if the actual selling price to the importer is less than the cost of production, including a reasonable profit, in the country of origin. In such case the Minister may impose a dumping duty not exceeding the difference between the actual selling price of the goods and. the cost of production. —Wellington Times.