HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY. The House met at 2.20. • Mr McArthnr moved the adjournment of tho House, in-order that it may have an op-, portuuity of considering .the proposed new concessions to. the Midland Railway Coinpany. He referred to the proposed deviation of the line,, and. .said that . from £250,000 to £400,000 would bo saved by taking the lino over the hills instead of through tho tunnel. If the' Minister's reply was not satisfactory, he (Maearthur) should Rive notice of a committee-to enquire into these, concessions.. Mr Allen said he was one of those, .who gave a good deal of consideration to the report on this question hist year. .. Dr. Hodgkinson said it was his opinion that the utmost concessions 1 had been made to the company. Mr Seymour ssid if the lino could bo constructed more advantageously by going over the hill instead."of going to the expense of tunnelling, the company should receive the benefit of it." , . Sir 11, Atkinson said tho plain fact was that tho company had alleged that the late discoveries-had enabled them to taketho line over the hill at a much loss cost than through a tunnel, and yet be able to conduct u heavy traffic at a paying rate. They only asked at present that the plans should be submitted to tho Government,and approved by'two experts.-- He thought that was a very reasonable request. ! Considerable,discussion ensued. After which Mr McArthnr withdrew his motion for'adjournment, in order to move that a committee be appointed to consider the desirableness of. granting- new concessions to the company. Leave was rofhsed without notice being given, and Mr McArthnr, later on, gave notice of his motion for Wednesday next. THE TAlill-'F DEBATE. Mr Duncan resumed the debate on the' Customs Bill, and said it was the duty of the Treasurer;to extract as little as possible from the pockets of the people, but the pre-, sent proposals would affect many thousand persons, especially in tho country districts.. Tho tea duty put the country-members in a most unpleasant position, as, if they voted against it, they would have to answer for it to their constituents, and the mining interests were affected just as much. He contended the Treasurer should have no more money than was absolutely necessary, but this Tariff would give a groat deal more than was requisite, it really would drain the whole country for the benefit of the four large towns. Mr Jones denied that the agricultural districts would be injuriously affected, as they, above all others, were exceptionally well treated. He approved of the financial proposals as a whole, but would like to see some amendments in the tariff. Major Jackson was utterly opposed to taxation for purely protective purposes, but he recognised the need for extra revenue. Reductions of nearly a'quarter of a million in the public service showed the Government were in earnest in their intentions of retrenchment, and they had undoubtedly takep steps to put onr finances on a Bound basis. Their programme, in his opinion, was a good one, and lie should help thein to carry it out. He would, however, have; preferred before increasing the tariff to see if no more reductions were possible, but the House had decided that tho Bill must be gone on with, and he should support the second reading. ■ Mr Kerr said there .was no doubt money must be liad, ancl if it was not from the Ciistortns, it must be got from the land, ar.d that'would hurt agricuturists more" than the tariff. There were many things in tho list not touched which he would like to-see taxed. For his own part, he was satisfied that farmers could carry on with things as they wore, but if land had to be taxed they would be ruined. Tho debate was interrupted by tho 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. The Premier proposed the appointment of the committee, moved for by Mr Me.Artlmr, with rospect to .the Midland Railway. If they waiLed till Wednesday lie was afraid they would get into difficulties.

Sir George Grey objected, as the matter was being taken too hurridly. Mr Stewart would like more time.to consider the composition of the committee. . Motion agreed to. TAIIIFIJ. DEBATE. i Mr Kerr referred to America as a glowing instance of the benefits of Protection. Mr Withy stated that 25 years' experience among factories in England, combined ..with •» residence iu New Zealand, has .shown him there was even less need of protection in a new country than iu an old one. The tea and primage duty lie approved 'of, but disliked the Property Tax. He knew money was wanted, but could not be a party to raising it by protective duties. He did not suppose either pure freetrade or protection would, by:itself, restore the prosperity of the country. The ibon. gentleman spoke exhaustively on the abstract subject of arguing that protection would raiso prices without raising wages. It would do Protectionists good to go Home and note the enormous production that went on everywhere. How could manufacturers, with - only the colony to supply,, hope to compete with men who supplied not only England, but most of the world besides ? The duty on machinery-' was particularly unwise, the cost of living was increased with heavy Tariff, and he-urged there, should;be an appeal to the country before taking this final plunge.' We should find out what the country was best fitted to' produce and not be led away by a desire to grant a rnonoply. No shackles should be put on industry, and technical education should be cncouraged to avoid all artificial means of developing the country. . Mr Stewart said the House was.indebted to Mr Withy for his intelligent and dispasionate speech, but if ho had conducted his travels a little further he would .have found that Protection was absolutely necessary in a young country. He 'read extracts from Mill, and other authorities, iii support of his contention. Ho was sorry to see Civil servants made victims of our own mismanagement, lie would prefer to see them retained at a low salary until they could obtain employment rather I than bo dismissed wholosalo. Mr Mckenzie opposed the tariff and blamed the Government for not further reducing the expenditure before imposing such heavy burdens, _ Mr Peacock saw, nq cause for, desponding. The colony had plenty of elasticity, and he. looked for' a re-action before long. : One other contract should be let on the ■ Northern Trunk -Railway. £'40,000 had been spent on tho tunnel, and it would be unwise not to finish the line to that point, from which communication could be obtained with 'l'araiiaki by. load. Encouragement to now industries'was Already secured by duties of 15 per cent. ; to raise them as now proposod to 20 and 2o per cent, would have an evil effect, especially oil wage earners, Mr Macsrregor moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Seddon protested. The. Premier said that he had made up his mind to set his face against late night sittings as Ministers could not get through their work if they had to sit into the small hours of the morning, The motion was then carried and the House rose at 11.35. p.m.