ANTI-REFORM D CANARDS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 7

ANTI-REFORM D CANARDS.

ANOTHER ONE EXPOSED.

. (Sl-ECIA*. TO ••-•'_. MESS."} WELLINGTON, Juno 1. The Opposition newspapers seem so hard put to it to get ammunition against tho Reform Government that they havo frequently to resort to new inventions. An article published in the local anti-Reform journal on Saturday stated that it would probably come as a disagreeable surprise to the majority of noopie to learn that in tho expiring days of last session, a clause was passed iii" the Customs Act providing that all goods imported by Government House should he admitted free of duty. Tho. article further stated that this alteration of the law was accomplished surreptitiously by a political trick.

A ' Dominion'" reporter who made enquiries on tho subject was informed that the clause referred to dealing with tho effects of the Governor was introduced at tho request of the Home Government, in order that conditions here might be made uniform with every other portion of the British Empire." As to the allegation that this alteration of the law was accomplished surreptitiously, thc following fact- wero suDinitted :—The Customs Bill was referred for detailed examination to a special Committee of the House oi R> piosentarives. which included iv its membership Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of tho Onposition), and Messrs Witty. Buddn. and Veitch. The clause relating to the Governor's effects was explained by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (Minister or Customs), in the House of Representatives when the Customs Bill was committed. Owing to the fact that the explanation was given when the House was in Committee, the explanation >s not reported iv '•Hansard," hut tho Hon. F. H. D. Bell (Leader .of tho Legislative Council), stated when the matter was mentioned to him on Saturday, that the explanation of _ the clause which he gave in the Upper House wa- bused on the explanation which he had previously heard given by . Mr Ei-lier in thc H.-.use of Rcprosentn- | rives. The Customs Bill was one of j the few measures brought down during the-e-rion which Mr Bellliad not read, , but ho was in the Legislative Councillors' gallery in the House of Representative, when Mr Fisher explained the effect of the clause providing for tho remission of Customs taxation on the Governor's effects. When he took charge of tho Customs Bill in tho i Upper House. Mr Bell, for the reasons he stated, asked the Council to accept tho statements of the Customs Department and the Minister of Customs. Speaking on the question that the Bill be read the second time, Mr Bell said, inter alia, "There is one small alteration of the law. New Zealand stands alone in charging the Governor duty upon tho goods that he may bring out here. We are, in fact, the only part of his Majesty's Dominions which has that distinction, and we proposo to roinovo it by this alteration. 1 do not know that it is a very important oue, and 1 do not think his Excellency the Governor has troubled .about the matter, but the Secretary of Stato called attention to the unique position wo hold, and advantage has been taken of this Bill to remove that nosition.''