QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 298, 10 September 1908, Page 9

QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

ANOMALIES. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. .Mr. T. Mackenzie yesterday asked the Minister for Customs whether his attention had i boen called to the anomalous position in which tho manufacturers, and consequently workors, of this country wero placed in relation. to tho Commonwealth Customs Tariff, whereby we wero regarded as a foreign country, and that goods manufactured here-and exported, to tho Commonwealth wero .subjectto a duty of five per cent. more, than was levied oil British manufactures, thus placing us in that respect on tho same platform as . Germany; and, if so, what steps had the Government taken to induco tho Commonwealth authorities to place us on tho most-favoured-nation footing. The reply of tho Hon. J. A. Millar was that tho Government _ wero awaro that articles manufactured in New Zealand oxported to Australia were at a disadvantage as compared with manufactures from the United-Kingdom. Zealand was not, however, in this respect in a worso position than G'nnada and. other British possessions. Tho honourable member was no doubt aware that tho exportation of goods manufactured in New Zealand to Australia had never been On a largo scale, and tho-5 per cent, concession to tho United Kingdom of such lines as textile picco goods, apparel, certain agricultural machinery, candles, and_ confectionery would therefore not affect Now Zealand seriously.' Tho concession might possibly affect Now Zealaud jam, but tlm "xnortution

■of this was insignificant. Tlio caso was different in connection with preserved milk, which was exported to Australia in 1906 to the value of £86S0; in 1907 it fell to £1511. . Tho duty in the Commonwealth general tariff was 2(1. per lb., and tho concession to tho United Kingdom Jd. per lb. This seems to bo the Now Zealand manufacture most seriously affected. Tho Government of tho Commonwealth had chosen not to follow tho . .example of New Zealand in placing all British possessions on 1 tho samo footing as tho ; Mother Country. No steps had been taken to induce the Commonwealth authorities to make an excoption in tho case of New Zea- ! land. The Government woro of opinion that this would be a matter for consideration in . connection with reciprocal agreements for , mutual concessions, without which it would 'probably be hopeless to expect a departure >on tho part of tho Commonwealth from what was apparently its settled policy. From this point of view tho effect of tho preforonco to Great Britain on tho part of Australia would be carefully watched with reference to its effect on New Zealand CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION, Tho Primo Minister (to Mr. Barber) regarding ■ the Civil Service Classification scheme:—"l understand the board is unable to completo tho work in time to place it beforo Parliament this session. That being so, all increases of pay., will, as previously stated by me, bo dealt with on the Supplementary Estimates." i Mr. Barber, speaking subsequently, regrotted that this report could not bo brought down. Considerable disappointment would ••bo felt by civil servants. Ho, personally, believed the board had been wrongly constructed. It should havo been comprised of men able to devote the whole of their time to the work. Heads of Departments and others were unablo to do this. It practically meaut that tho first annual increment of many, particularly the clerk who was not recognised- on tho 'Supplementary Estimates, would bo deferred for twelve months. The high-salaried officers would get their increases. ■ HARBOUR AT POINT ELIZABETH. •The Prime Minister to the Hon. A. It. Guinness: —A reply has been received-from tho Admiralty transmitting copy of a report from the captain of H.M.S. Prometheus, who inspected the proposed sito for a harbour at Point Elizabeth. In forwarding this report, the Admiralty states that, it is evident from it that oxtensivo dredging would bo required to . render tho site available for a harbour, even . for vessels . of. moderate draft, and .that long piers would havo to bo .built to provide the necessary depth of water required; and. that, in view of the exposed position and the .prevailing heavy, seas,' the-, cost of building a breakwater would probably exceed ono and three-quarter millions. Tho Admiralty adds that from a naval point of view tho proposed harbour would not bo of use, but from a commercial point of view a good harbour on this exposed' coast would k of groat advantago. when tho railway has been completed, especially if tho quality of tho coal in tho vicinity prove to compare favourably with Westport coal. EXPORT OF TIMBER. In reply to Mr. Stalhvorthy, figures relating to the export of timber and'duties collected at the port of Kaipara were quoted by tho Minister for, Customs (Hon. J. A. Millar), who proceeded: —"The abovo figures do not soom to support the contention that tho present export duty encourages tho exportation of timber in round logs, squared half-logs, logs, and flitches, and apparently not much labour is boing lost to the as nearly all tho timber is being oxported in'a sawn state; but full inquiry is being made as to tho quantity being shipped during this year, and if it is found that the exportation of logs is increasing to ail oxtent that may bo detrimental to the timber workers of tho Dominion the question of' increasing the export duty will be considered by'tho Government." | Mr., Witty wanted Cook Island fruit carried on the New Zealand railways at the samo rate as New Zealand grown fruit. Tho Minister, after giving particulars of 'difficulties in tho way, said that tho alteration could not Very well bo granted. Mr. J. Allen asked: —Do the Government oppose tho granting of tho return asked for in tlie motion of tho member for Bruco (No. 13, Order Paper No. 31), and, if so, why? Tho Prime Minister:—Yes, as it is not considered desirable to givo a return that would show tho name of either institutions or persons from whom the loan-moneys wore obtained. The Prime Minister again informed Sir ■W. J. Steward that tho model by-laws will be submitted this session. . Sir' Wlliam Steward wants the Government to sot up a commission to compile and arrange into coherent form tho Native land legislation of the Dominion. "The matter is under consideration,", said tho Primo Minister. Probably Mr. Carroll would have said " Taihoa." Some persons who have been in the Dominion for forty years, but who had left for a few years, returning again, havo not, said Mr. Jennings, the right of obtaining the old age pension. Tho Primo Minister, in reply, said it was not proposed to amend the Act to obviato this. Any further concession would not affect thoso persons who had left tho Dominion to pleaso themselves, and had returned to obtain tho benefit of legislation passed to better the lot of thoso who remained. An absence 'of four years was allowed at present. Ministers do not intend to introduco legislation making the Government responsible to the local bodies for tho general rates on the unlet sections of land bought for tho purpose of land for settlements or workmen's homes. "Authorities to survey Native lands aro issued by tho Surveyor-General under the authority of tho Native Minister," said tho Hon. R. M'Nab, in reply to Mr. Herrics. "The only casos in which delay in issuing them is known to occur are when tho lands are being or likely to bo dealt with by tho Native Land Commission, whose report is awaited beforo action is taken, or where tho land is being dealt with by tho Maori Land Boards. All other cases are invariably dealt with immediately, unless special reasons exist to the contrary." Mr. Hall asked tho Minister for Lands "whether, in view of the Piripiri and Tamaki Blocks, near Dannevirke, and' Rakautatahi Blocks, near Norsewood, boing shortly .offoral to tho public on the optional system—that is to say, for cash,'right of purchase, and renewable lease in small areas—ho will mako provision for a careful review of the prices to be fixed on these lands, in order to avoid similar dissatisfaction in regard ■to rentals that now provails in regard.to tho Tamaki Blbcks."—The Hon. R. M'Nab replied :—'*ln accordanco with the usual practice of tho Department, a careful review will bo made of the prices proposed to b'o allotted to tho , CroWn lands in tho Piripiri, Tamaki, and Rakautatahi Blocks beforo being opened for selection." . ..