THE TARIFF QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 268, 14 November 1887, Page 2

THE TARIFF QUESTION.

MEETING OF PROTECTIONISTS,

MOSS WILLING TO FORCE THE

MINISTERIAL HAND.

(TELEGRAPH —OWN KBPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. Attention is now being so generally directed to a revision of the tariff as one means of removing the prevailing depression that some fuller information of tho proceedings at tho meeting of protectionists than was telegraphed on Saturday should bo received with interest. There were present: Messrs "Fish, Kelly, Levestam, Frasor, Seddon, Jones, Larnach, Steward, Dr. Fitehctt, Messrs Lawry, Percival, Joyce, Goldie, Monk, Downie Stewart, Feldwick, Cadman, Buxton, It. Ileoves, W. P. Reeves, Kcrr, Taylor, Ward, Taiwhanga, Pratt and T. Thompson. Apologies were received from Messrs Loughey, Blake, O'Callaghan, Ballance and Turnbull. It was stated that 58 circulars had been sent out.

Mr Moss again occupied the chair. Mr Downie Stewart was the first speaker. Ec said they were met together to determine whether they should insist upon a revision of the tariff with a view to fostering local industries during this session. He moved a resolution to that effect.

ilr Goklie thought it should bo distinctly understood on tho part of the meeting that whilst he was very anxious that this should be dono during tho present session, ho would not be prepared to force it by his vote in event of the Government making it a party question. He was" sent there to do three things—first, to obtain drastic retrenchment ; secondly, to get protection, and if possible get it this session ; and finally to assist in keeping Sir Julius Vosrcl from getting back to power. If Government conid not sco their way clear to revise tho tariff this session, and would give a ■pledge to call tho House together early in the year, and would then submit a tariff revised in the direction of 'assisting local industries, he would forego tho immediate realisation of his desires in the direction of protection, fro that tho retrenchment which tho country needed and which was shadowed forth in the Budget submitted by Major Atkinson should be obtained by the country. Sir T. Thompson spoke in the same strain. Ho gave the meeting to understand that whilst he was as strong - in protection as any of those who were present, he though t the first duty of Government was to give effect to tho cry of tho country in the direction of retrenchment. Ho would like further to give the meeting to understand that ho was not going to be used as a tool to allow the late Ministry to get back to power. If tiiO tariff was not brought down next session ho would be found in Opposition.

Mr Moss, on tho other hand, .said ho was quite prepared to take a definite stand •upon this question irrespective of tho question which party occupied the Treasury Benches, as he looked upon tho subject as of greater importance than was the personiiel of the Ministry. If only twenty would stand by him, he was prepared to force the question to a vote. Mr Catlman had no doubt in his own mind that Government would take it as a no-coufidenco motion, but if Government supporters who were protectionists would wait upon the Ministry and urge thorn Lo bring down a revised tariff this session ho believed they would comply. Mr Ward believed there were in thellouso fifty-three protectionists, and they were therefore in a majority. They should face this question without any reference to Sir Julius Vogel at all. Hβ personally was determined to vote against any Government which would not give tho protection the people desired. He concluded by urging protectionists not ib be half-hearted on this question.

Mr Goklie asked whether the Opposition ■would bo prepared to give a written pledge that in the event of the Government taking Kp this subject during tho present session they would .give them support. Those present expressed their willingness to do .so.

Mr Monk declared himself vory anxious to see this revision-of the tunff, and suggested that that mooting , should appoint a committee to.wait on the Premier and ascertain from him what he eonsiclei-ed to be the ehorfcesfc time necessary to prepare a tariff on the lines they .desired .: but he did not feei that they wero justified in forcing , Government to do what bo, riter all, a moral impossibility. He would bo satisfied if the Premier would give a promise that the House should be called together early in the new year, and if Government) failed then to submit a tariff ho would be found in opposition. Mr Percival said it appeared the difficulty was the fear of Sir J. vogel getting back to power. Ho thought protectionists should fight this question entirely clear of all such considerations. If Government wore defeated there was no certainty of Sir J. being placed in power again, but so farlia they were concerned Sir J. Vogel had been selected as their fighting leader, but it did not follow that in the event of victory he should be their leader in ■the Hou.se. He thought) that Atkinson did not intend to revise the tariff in the direction they desired, or else ho would have affirmed it more definitely in the Financial Statement, and would have appointed a .select committee to work up the Information n'ecessaiy. Ifc was no secret that if Sir Julius Vogel were out of the way Government would not stand a moment. He thought the meeting should not funk the question for fear of Sir Julius Vogel. Major Steward said nearly all the Opposition were protectionists, and on the Government side there were many protectionists. If they would coalesce they could force protection this session. Mr Taiwhanga declared his belief in protection, and said he had no faith in either Atkinson or Vogel. They were both bad, both making promises and promises, 'and in the meantime the country was sinking. He thought what the country wanted was an entire change in the Ministry. He could not support' tho- present Ministry because they were too severe upon tho Maoris.

After some further discussion a committee was appointed to interview Major Atkinson.

tf The Premier's Reply. " The Premier, in his reply to the deputation, said that at present he was engaged at Government cilices from 9 o'clock in the morninf, and the work was not finished till between twelve and one next morning at that. Ib would be an impossibility for him to prepare a tariff suited to the requirements of. the country in less than, two or three months. It was just possible, in the preparation of a tariff, that whilst going strongly in the direction of assisting local industries it might bo necessary to make ib assist revenue as .well. The economy of the people was causing continuous shrinkage in the Customs returns, but he hoped to be able to avoid this by making-even larger reductions than he had submitted to the House. He also said the reason that the tariff of the late Ministry was nob accepted by the House was because it had not been sufficiently thought out. He received from Canterbury a pamphlet-con-taining what they considered a perfect tariff, put he was satisfied that neither the House nor the country would accept it. He assured the deputation that he would endeavour to call the House together early in April, and would then, as soon as possible after the House met, submit to them a I

tariff Whloh he believed would be acceptable to free traders and protectionists alike. The reply received will be laid bofore the adjourned meeting to-day.