PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2486, 16 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (by tewgraph—prkss association.) FRIDAY. The Speaker took his scut at 2.30. The Hon. Dr. Pollen presented it petit'on from fruit grower* against the Codlin Moth Bill. . Hon. Mr Mantell moved that letters laid on the table in connection with tho Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Act, 1887, from tho Colonial Treasury to Hon. Messrs Hart, Martin, Bucklcv, and Pharazyn be printed. Sir i\ Whitaker and Hon Mr Wilson objected, urging it would do no good and was unnecessary. . Hon. Mr McLean, Sir (i. Whitmore, and Hon. Mr Buckley hoped the letters wouid be printed, so that publicity should be given to tho the true facts. Motion agreed to on the voices. The adjourned debate 011 the second reading of the Codlin Moth Bill was continued, and a division was taken 011 Hon. Dr. Pollen's amendment, that the Bill be read that day six months, which was carried by 15 to 10. The Administration Act Amendment Bill was committed and reported with amendments. The Council rose at 5 p.m. till Monday,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence for a week was granted to Mr McArthur, on account of illness. Replying to Mr Turnbull, Hon. Mr Mitchelson said, ex- Judge Davy, Colonel Roberts and a Native Assessor would bo appointed a commission to inquire into Joshua Jones'claim to land at Mokau. A lengthy discussion ensued 011 the personel of the commission, Mr Seddon alleging that it had been reported, Colonel Koberts and Jones had formerly come into conflict. Hon. Mr Mitchelson and Mr Samuel defended the commission as being a most satisfactory one. During the discussion that followed, Mr Hamlin urged that Jones should receive justice at the hands of the Government. He strongly condemned the action of the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court, and said that gentleman had given a decision which overruled Acts of Parliament, and which the Attorney-General had declared were wrong, and not according .to law.

Sir H. Atkinson challenged Mr Hamlin to imt his charge against the Chief Judge into writing so that he could cause an enquiry into it. He save a fall history of the case and said he had originally advised Jones not to go to Mokau. The natives asserted that a large number of signatures to title had been wrongly obtained and that they had not sold laud at all, but Jones had declared to him and thre* of his colleagues that nothing but a Parliamentary title would satisfy him, and that the Government refused to grant. What they asked for was to get a commission to investigate the whole matter. The motion for adjournment was lost and the. House rose at ").30. Tin-, Hnur-o re-uuud at 7.30, and went in to commute- on the Customs Bill. Olau-e 7, living bmidel warehouse duty: Mr Seddon asked what amount had be--n raised, and the Colonial Treasurer explained that these whorehouses did not at present c>>vor the cost of looking after them. A now clause was proposed, exempting machines for grain mills or textile fabric mills, or intended for mill.-) in course of erection prior to May 30th from the operation of the new Tariff. Some members wanted to postpone the clause till after the schedule 1)9(1 been disposed of, but this was not allowed. Mr Bruce wished to exempt siw-mills, but the Colonial Treasurer objected. Other exemptions of a similar charac er were suggested without avail, and the clause was passed with a proviso that such machinery must be landed in the colony within six months.

The schedule containing the items of new tarilf was then taken into consideration.

The Premier said there were some items which he wished to alter, but had not quite decided upon ; these he would leave for the present as they sto.id, and recommit the Bill to deal with them afterwards.

Acetic acid was altered from oil to I.U per Ib. Effervescing beverages were added to the item of suiated water, 20 per cent. Apparel and ready-made clothing, etc., 25 per cent. Mr Tanner moved to reduce the duty to the old rale of 15 per cent. Mr Seddrm moved l> strike out. cotton and linen goods from the item. Mr Reeves (St. Albans) asked the Premier to raise the duty on silk. Messrs Beetham and Hall strongly supported the suggestion. Tho Premier would not object, but he was afraid if they raised the duty too high they would not get any revenue.

Mr Smith spoke, against imposing any burden on the poorer classes, as this 25 per omit, would indict. Much discussion took place over this item, and the Premier said he could not agree to the reduction proposed by Mr Tanner, as it would upset the whole Tariff. Mr Seddon's amendment was lost by 48 to 30, and Mr Tanners by 44 to 31, and the item subsequently passed untouched. Dried apples Id per lb struck out. Blankets, 20 per cent. The Premier was pressed to make it 25 per cent, to prevent the dishonesty of traders who palmed off indifferent imported goods as colonial, but declined on the ground that to separate blankets from other soft go ids would cause too much confusion. Boots, shoes, etc., 20 per cent. Mr Moss aslced the Premier to make it so much por dozen, as certain classes of boots could nut possibly bo made in the colony. The Premier said, after consideration, that ho belioved an ad valorem duty to be the fairest. l)c. Hndgkinsim moved to reduce the duty to 15 per cent. Lost by 48 to 2li. Candied and drained peel, 3 J p?r lb, was withdrawn for further consideration. Carriages:, etc., 20 per cent. Mr Percival suggested a heavy tax on carriages, and after some discussion the itom was held over. Chaff-cutters, corncrushers and mills, 23 i> <.r cent. Mr Anderson moved to reduce this to 10 per cent. Lost by 44 to 31. Cotton, linen and silk piece goods, 20 per cent. The Premier said tie would reconsider this.

Cotton linen, silk and other textile manufactures not otherwise enumerated 20 per cent. Struck out, the Premier explaining there was no necessity for this item as it was included under other headings.

(Left sitting.)