PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 142, 6 July 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

(unitkd press association.) Thuesdat, July 5, the tariff. The Customs Duties Bill was re-cor-n mitted. Clause 14.— A proviso was added, bringing alterations made since May 30 into force on the daie such alterations were made. ... ■_ A new clause was added, enabling the Midland Eailway Company to import -plant under the existing law, upon entering into a bond that such plaut was to be used solely for the railway, and riot sojd or otherwise employed. • Bitters, m bottles, jars, Ac— l6s per gallon was inserted m the schedule; Brass and copper manufactures, not otherwise enumerated, were increased to 20 percent. -' Cordials, m bottles v jars, &c. — Is Oct per gallon inserted. • Hessians, not exceeding 4d per yard.— 15 per cent was struck out. Liquors.— l6s per gallon inserted. Papermache ware was increased to 20 per cent. The item, silk aad silk 3 velvet, 2o percent, waa altered to include satin and plush. Scrim cloth.— ls per cent was struck out. Pearlash, potash, and caustic potash were 'placed on the free list. In answer to a question, the PREMIER said these alterations would not give any increase of revenue. On the motion for third reading, Mr BEETHAM made a final protest against the imposition of a protective tariff, which he felt sure would hamper rather than encourage manufactures. Tlfere were many other ways m which the financial balance could be restored^ without imposing such a mass of extra taxation, among which were the proper settlement of land- and improved management of railways. * HonjMr FERGUS jreplied to the prey ious speaker's strictures, and claimed thqrt the ' Premier was perfectly consistent m his policy. , The position of the Government had been one of extreme difficulty, and if members were dissatisfied, all they had to do was to give them a short shrift: He reviewed the tariff to show that the bulk of the duties were reqnired principally for revenue purposes, and there was very • little comparatively put on those who were least able to pay it. Captain RUSSELL said that Government were not pouring oil on the troubled waters. He feared the ultimate result of this Tariff would not be an increase of revenue at all, though it might be swelled for a year or two. . It was his firm belief , .that if the people only realised the enorruous amount of taxation put upon them, they would return sufficient Freetraders to utterly reverse the present policy. Moreover, the Tariff would defeat its own ./- object, as the uprise of local industries ' would diminish the revenue. They would, however, increase the cost of living. Mr REEVES, member for St, Albans, denied that the Tariff wa.s brought down for revenue purposes, as many of the duties were decidedly imposed for Protection purposes. It was, m fact, a more drastic Tariff than Protectionists had ever dreamed of, or would have proposed to the i House.