STAR OF CANADA

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 25 September 1912, Page 5

STAR OF CANADA

DECISION RKSERYED

(E;t Tehyraph—Press Association.)

CISBORNE, List Night. Evidence in,the Star of: Canada claim was concluded this evening, Mr Justice Chapman reserving his decision. . Sir John Findlay, souncel for the plaintiffs, intimated that the legal argument would be heard..in Wellington. ■ ■ ■ v

act. Instructions Jiad been given to heads of departments, and the High Commissioner to give preference to British goods where possible. That policy would bo carried out so long as uey remained in. office.

Sir Joseph Ward said the late Government, in its lenders, had always given preference. to British goods. In the matter of tenders for rails, preference had been given to .British firms ui> t'i £1 nor ton. Mr Herdman said the amendment was foreign to the question before the House. He could not agree to tne amendment.

Mr Myers suggested that, as the matter had been ventilated and the Premier 'had announced that preference would be given, Mr Witty shonld withdraw his amendment.

Sir Joseph Ward agreed in this view, and added tliat the High Commissioner should not have power to frame regulations as to where, the goods should be produced.

Tho Premier said that was not.the case. All the'' regulations were subject to the approval of the Governor, or the Government of the day.

Mr R, McKenzie said the explanation just given made the matter worse. Mr Hindmarsh could not understand Mr Witty proposing an amendment which was odious in the way of being bounteous nor could he understand the country abolishing competition in these days of trusts.

Mr Wilford said in by tendering nowadays it was extraordinary what little variation one found in tenders. That indicated that there was an understanding. __ Mr Laurenson argued in favour of British preference, and showed what New Zealand had tried to do in that direction. Every step this country could take in the way of welding great preference was a step in the right direction.

The Hon R .FT. Rhodes said the Post Office had already given preference to British goods in more, than a dozen cases, and at a somewhat higher nrice than other tenderers. Mr W. H. D. Bell agreed that there was a point at which the difference in price between goods of British manufacture and foreign goods had to be considered. He favoured preference up to a pi out at which there could be reasonable economy.

| After further discussion, Mr Witty ] withdrew his amendment, i The Minister moved an additional ! sub-clause, giving the Commissioner ! power to procure supplies independent |of tenders, or of the regulations made Ibv th" Commissioner. 1 Thin wtv; agreed to. I The Minister moved an amendment, 'providing that nothing in the Bill 'shall reduce tlv- annual leave or ! amount, of anv special monetary allowjance in addition to salary made to I Post and Telegraph officers under any ' existing regulation?.

! Mr G. W. Russell asked why the ; amendment did not apply to the rest ' of the service.

| Mr Yei+e-b mad? "■ rn'o'en ■•»'. smuJar lines. He could not see why the I whole service should not be placed on the same lines as the Post and TeleI graph. I Mrßuseell moved an amendment, to iprovid'- that tlv< enoly to any other Department outside the Po«b land Telegraph. I Mr Yeilch held that the Bill contained a. most iniquitous principle, | and he would support the, amendment. They should be satisfied with putting a gag in the mouth of the members of the KorvK'o. but there was no need to , ram it down their throats, as the Bill proposed.