Duty on Timber.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 126, 9 November 1901, Page 3

Duty on Timber.

Speaking in the Kousa on Thursday morning on the second reading of the Timber Export Bill, Sir Joseph Ward said the delay in the appearance of the Bill was duo to a desire on the part of the Government to ascertain what the Commonwealth intended t) do. He went on to say that he ' was strongiy opposed to anything in the shape of retaliatory action by New Zealand in consequence of the imposition of the Federal fcjiriH". He did not believe that in arranging the proposed Federal tariff the leading statesmen of Australia were animated by feelings that wero hostile to New Zealand, and he urged that no such impression should be allowed to go abroad in New Zealand. The task of the Federal statesmen in arranging the lisoal poiicy waa necessarily ditHo lit, and their action should be j idg*l wiihout feeling as far as Now Zealand was concerned. No one could tell what the future destiny of either country would be, and it w.is certain that both must be actuated by very much the same sentiments. Neither country could afford to jeopardise the friendship which everyone must admit ohould exist betwewn them. An endeavor should be made when matters had settled down to reciprocate upon such commercial matters as would not injuriously affect either country. In introducing the Timber Export Duty Bill the Government had taken a unique departure in not imposing an export duty now, but instead had taken the power to do so by the Governor-in-Couucil if necessary, and this was only for the purpose of ensuring that a great industry that had done much good in different parts of New Zealand should not, if it were possible to prevent it, be in any way injured or restricted.» He personally would assist in every way towards affecting a satisfactory arrangement in this as well as in other matters affecting the two countries, but he would not for one moment countenance any proposal of a hostile character in the shape of retaliation against the Australian Commonwealth. He would very much lika to see reciprocity arranged.