PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8533, 11 September 1907, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE TARIFF BILL. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 10. In the House, thh afternoon, the Tariff Bill was resumed in Committee. At the amendment proposed last week to place boilers for steam engines for mining or dairying purposes on the 5 per cent. list, the dairying phase of the question absorbed much of the afternoon. The Premier pointed out that the

amount paid in duty for boilers for dairving purposes last year was a shilling under £53. Notwithstanding this, it was being asserted that the dairying industry was being penalised and nothing was done for it. So far from nothing having been done, he said, the tax on imported butter was £U per ton, and £9OO per year was being paid for the inspection of dairies. The Minister of Customs stated that the tax on the dairying industry under the new schedule was based on the previous years' imports. Mr W. F. Massey contended that the duty of SO per cent, on butter would not affect the price to the extent of one farthing per pound. He complained that the constant interference of inspectors would drive many dairy farmers from the industry. The Premier said that the Government inspection of dairies was first proDOsed by a Mr Massey in the North. He did not say it was the Leader of the Opposition. A Member: There's only one Massey! The Premier: It must have been him, then. (Laughter.) Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa) l approved of dairy inspection. Repre- | senting a dairying district with ten factories, he v/as in a position to say that the dairymen of Wairarapa heartily welcomed the Minister's proposals which would greatly benefit the industry. If the inspection of dairies was going to drive farmers out of the distric:, it was better that

they should go. Mr C. H. Izard (Wellington North) echoed Mr Hornsby's sentiments. Mr J. Stevens (Manawatu) said that, while believing that dairying implements should beonthe'free list, he to support the Govern-j ment proposal in view of the generous concessions granted in other respects. He hoped to see 20 per cent, more added to the price paid by the Government for diseased cattle destroyed. Mr C. Lewis (Courtenay) said that the duty would increase boilers for dairying machinery 15 per cent. Hon. T. Duncan (Oamaru) said that the feeling among farmers was that this was the first attempt to exploit them. He anticipated, as a result, that a reaction would take place. The Premier wanted to know how it was that a number of members never received any request from their constituents to oppose the tariff proposals. s '. Mr H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) said he could produce scores of telegrams from dairy factories asking him to vote against the duty. He contended that inspection was not necessary, and as to the tax upon imported butter it was useless as ' farmers could do without it. ] The House adjourned at 5.30 o'clock.

EVENING SITTING. The House in the evening resumed the discussion in committee of the proposed duty of 20 per cent, on boilers, mining and dairying machinery, and the Hon. R. Guinness' amendment to reduce the duty to 5 per cent. Mr A. W. Hogg contended that the mining and dairying industries quired consideration, and from 5 to 20 per cent, was a huge jump. The discussion proceeded until 9 o'clock, when a division on the amendment gave the G6vemment a majority of ten, the voting being 36 to 26. Mr J. Allen then moved to reduce electrical machinery from 10 per cent, to 5 per cent. . The amendment was negatived by 42 to 23.