The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1885. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2037, 9 July 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1885. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF.

The Government found itself in a woeful minority when the proposed increase in the Customs duties came on for discussion yesterday, and though nominally protesting against reporting progress, ministers were probably glad when they found the further consideration of tho subject postponed, No doubt Sir Julius Vogel thought be would be able to carry his proposals by paity tactics, but in this he was mistaken, for he had about two-thirds of the House straight against him. With the exception of wines and spirits, lie carried absolutely nothing that will make a material increase in the revenue. Jt is true that only a portion of the new Tariff has been gone through, but judging by the way the voting went, no doubt is left that the Freetrade party has matters pretty well its own way. Ministers have now been afforded an opportunity to consider their position, it is not a pleasant one, for they have before them the choice of going on and sustaining a series of defeats, or of abandoning one of their most important measures, In either case the objects of the Freetrade parly will have been gained.

Mit Stout sustained ut defeat in the House yesterday afternoon which he probably little expected. Mr J. 0. Buckmnd, an Otago member, had introduced the Impounding Act Amendment Bill, and explained that its sole object was to place all parts of the, colony on* tho one footing Mr Stout thereupon rose and objected, ,on the ground that it would be a hardship, on small holders in Otago, where it had never been the practice to impound stock trespassing on unfenced land. It must seem plain to all who reflect that the impounding laws are of greater importance to small farmers than to runholders, and so the House appeared to think/because the motion for the second reading was carried by a largo majority. -Mv Sraur is not ut farmer, but according to his usual style of knowing more bf auy subject under tho sun than anybody else, he aired his opinion, after which the members of the House expressed theirs to the effect that he knew nothing about the matter.