PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8524, 30 August 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

p (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, August 29. The Legislative Council, to-day, agreed to the second reading of Apiaries Bill and Maori Lands Settlement Bill. In the former Bill, while the provisions were generally approved, it was pointed out that the explanation of the term foul brood required a definition, and also that there should be some assurance that before insisting upon the compulsory use of bar frame hives they were procurable at prices within the reach of the man with small means. The Maori Lands Settlement Act, which gives power to raise £50,000 for the purchase of native land, was heartily approved of, and regret was expressed by some members that more money was not asked for, it being generally held that it is imperative to acquire a vast area of native lands for settlement after sufficient had been left for the profitable occupation of natives.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.. TARIFF BILL. The Tariff Bill having been passed' in Committee of Ways and Means early this morning, the second reading of the Bill was moved by Hon. J. A. Millar in the afternoon. This evoked a very brief discussion. Mr W. F. Massey expressed dissatisfaction as he had hoped to see the whole of the raw materials necessary for the industries of the colony placed on the free list. The principle that all classes should pay their share of taxation had been departed from, notably on boots, where the heaviest tax was on the cheapest boots, and the tax was reduced as the values increased. The Minister of Customs averred that the principle adopted had been as far as possible to place raw material on the free list, and remove the duty on food stuffs. He defended the duty on cheap boots, as a. means of removing shoddy from the market of the colony. This would induce the importation of a better article as well as encourage local manufacturers to make a better article.

The second reading of the Bill was carried, and the House went into Committee on the measure.

In reply to a question the Premiersaid that when the tariff was passed Canada would be prepared to consider a reciprocal tariff. At the clause which provides that newspaper proprietors who have entered into contracts for supplying paper for three years shall be exempt from duty, provided that the paper is imported and entered for home consumption before the end of December, 1908, considerable' discussion occurred.

Mr Massey characterised it as a class legislation. The small papers who purchased locally were compelled to pay an increased duty, and importers who catered for the smaller papers would not receive any benefit. The Minister, replying, said that the clause was intended to give effect to the fullest extent to the Act of 1903.

Mr J. G. W. Aitken hoped that the exemption which expired at the end of last year would not be made to extend beyond the end of this year.

Eventually the Minister agreed to amend the clause so that its operation would extend only to the end! of the present yeai*. The House in the evening resumed the discussion on the Tariff. Bill in Committee.

The Hon. A. R. Guinness moved a new clause to prohibit ornaments of glass and other articles in imitation of New Zealand greenstone from entering the colony, and for forfeiture of such articles a= dfd enter. The Premier asked Mr Guinness not to press a new clause, as if it was carried it should be applied to all imitations, and spurious articles. Matters of this kind should be left to the discretion of the Minister.

Mr Guinness replied that greenstone was a New Zealand industry and should be protected. The Minuter during the past four years had failed to exercise the power given to exclude imitations.

On a division there was a tie, 32 —* 32.

The Chairman gave his castingvet:: in favour of the motion.

Subsequently on a question beingput that the clause stand, as part of the Bill, it was lost by 33 to 31.

Progress was very slow, and it will be a late hour before the Committee, reaches the schedule of the Bill.