THE NEW TARIFF

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5130, 14 September 1895, Page 2

THE NEW TARIFF

AN EXCITING DEBATE. j' By Telegraph—Om Correspondent Wellington, Saturday. One of the most exciting debates • of the session took place last evening ; in Committee of Supply.

The Colonial Treasurer moved n series of resolutions altering the tariff ou different articles, among the more important changes being the reduction of tho duty on fruit. A tactical error was made by the Colonial Treasurer addressing the House in moving the resolutions, and this was the signal for a series of speeches, members being limited to four addresses of ton minutes duration.

The proposals were sevoroly criticised, opinions differing greatly as to the reductions of the tea duty, while the duty on fruit was generally condemned in the House.

Bofore midnight Sir Robert Stout moyed an amendment that the duty on apples, poais, plums, etc., be struck out this was lost on division only 14 voting for it. Another amonduient was proposed that tho duty be not imposed on orauges, bananas and cocoaauts. An exciting debate onsued, the Government refusing to withdraw the duty. Riccarton Russell, HallJones, and Piraui declared tlmt they would support the amendment and the Premier protesting that Sir R. Stout was taking an undue advantage of the fact that Government Supporters were absent, having left for the South Island.

In the meantime Messrs Hogg, Hall, Morrison, and others kept the discussion going while the absent members wore limited up. The amendment was lost by 80 to 18,