GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1756, 28 June 1888, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Tuesday, The report of the Committee appointed to draft reasons for insisting upon the Legislative Council’s amendments in the Chinese Bill was adopted. On tbs rnoHon of Mr Peter, it was reso.ved that the strict quarantine regulations rwommended by the AufUrnlian Slock Conference held in Sydney in 1888 be adopted in New Zealand. On ihe motion of Mr Miller, it was r*solved that a return be laid on the tab e showing what increase of property tax revenue would have been received during the past financial year if the exemptions had only excluded persons owning £IOO worth of property. On the motion of Mr Johnson, it was agreed that a Select Committee be appointed to enquire into the wotkiog of the Sheep Department. The Or.minJ Code Bill was rend a third lime and passed. HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. The Customs Duties Bill was further considered in Committee. Tea—6l per lb. Captain Russell moved that (he item be reduce i to 4d. The Premier said it was unreasonable for any member to propose such a in tiou as this. He wished the House cUarly to understand that the tea duty wis in general part of the Budget, and if the house rejected it Government would have to consider hew far their Budge* had been spoiled. Captain Russell disclaimed any idea of striking it out altogether. He hart simply moved Ids motion us it appeared on the Order Paper. He asserted that the present tariff w mid do more to injure the credit of the colony than anythiig else that could happen. There being some m'sunderatanrtiog between the Chairman and Oiptnin Rus-nll as to the exact words of the amendment, the latter then moved that the item be struck out with a view of insertirg 41 pep lb. Messrs Hutchinson, Duncan, Turnbull, Bdlanca, Fish, Menteath, Reeves (Inangahim, Goldie, O’Connor, Cadman, H-idakinson, and others having spoken, the Premier said if a reduction of the duty were carried he should at once move that progress be reported, so as to consider the position of Government. The. motion for striking out the item was put and lost on the voices. Captain -Russell moved that tl.s du y be reduced to 4-1. The motion for the reduction was put and lost by 42 to 35, and the duty of Gd per lb was c irried. The Premier moved to report progress to allow an Imprest Supply Bill to be brought down.—The mot on was agreed. R was ordered that the tariff debate should be resumed later on in the evening. After the 5.30 p.rn. adjournment, Imprest Supply of £200,000 was granted. Authority was given to renew £700,000 of deficiency bills. The Premier announced that no appoin*ment.to the vacant Judgeship would be made till after the session. The remainder of the evening was devoted to the tariff.