IMPORTS OF STONE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 16, 13 October 1927, Page 12

IMPORTS OF STONE

jJUTY REMISSION OPPOSED "INJUSTICE TO QUARRIES” Consideration of the proposal to remit the duty on undressed stone was deferred by the House yesterday, after protests had been made by several members. The object of the adjournment was to enable the Minister to make further inquiries. The opinion was expressed by Mr. R. P. Hudson (Motueka) tiiat the Government through its decision to admit granite and marble free was inviting the entry of stones from other countries. “I understand,” he added, “that it is the intention to import marble for the Massey memorial.” Voices: Shame 1 “If the right hon. gentleman could have had a say in the matter he would never have gone outside New Zealand for the stone for that monument,” Mr. Hudson continued. If the experts had reported against the use of New Zealand. stone' on the assumption that .it had no lasting qualities, then how could the use of the marble in Parliament House' and so many Government buildings be justified? It had been suggested, he understood, that not only should they go outside New Zealand for the .material, but outside the Empire also. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) advised the Minister to reconsider the matter. .., "Most iniquitous” was the description applied by Mr. T W. Rhodes (Thames) to the treatment meted out to the stone quarries of the Dominion. “Why should' we import marble tnd granite from Italy, or any other country, where low wages are paid?” he asked. “We want to employ our own men. This is a monstrous injustice that is being perpetrated in the tariff. Surely it is not the prerogative of the Minister to give an industry the last kick that will send it overboard. Other industries have been given a reasonable amount of protection and that is all we want for the stone quarries. Previously we had a small tariff but now this is being taken away. Let us hope that the Minister has something in reserve, something like the postscript to ’ a lady’s letter, good news at the end.” I. “The Few or the Many?” The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. D. Stewart) .said ..that the members concerned might have advised him earlier of their objections to the new tariff instead .of waiting until the item came before the House. “The whole question in this case,’’ he continued, “is as to whose interests are predominant, those of the many stonemasons of the Dominion or those of the few men employed in. the quarries. The people interested in the quarries except those from Nelson did not come forward to place their views before the Tariff Commission, which, on the other hand, had strong representations made to it by the stonemasons. The masons complained that foreign stone, especially from Finland, was sent to England, where sufficient work was done on it to enable it to come in under the British preference clauses in the tariff, whereas if they wanted to import a special piece of stone they had to pay the higher general tariff. They also told the Commission that they wanted far. more varieties and colours than they could obtain from New Zealand stone.” . Mr.’ H. Atmore (Nelson) suggested that this difficulty might be overcome by. allowing stone of the colours and varieties not obtainable in New Zealand to come in free. Mr. Stewart-; It • will suit me to have the duty, because it will give me more revenue. Mr. Atmore; That is the trouble with the tariff. It is very largely a revenue tariff instead of one designed to assist in creating employment. It was agreed to hold over the item pending the making of further inquiries by the Minister. COUNTY COUNCILS TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES When the Counties Bill was before the Legislative Council yesterday the Hon W. H. Mclntyre moved a new clause giving county councils the power to pay members a travelling allowance covering all charges in respect of their attendance at meetings of the councils, or in attending to any business of the councils when so authorised. He wished to clear up the present position, which was most ambiguous and a source of trouble with the Audit Department. The Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell) agreed to the clause on the understanding that it did not come into operation until January 1, 1928. He said that the Government had in view the drafting of a clause on the lines of the provision in the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act to be applicable to all local bodies. In supporting the amendment the Hon. T S. Weston expressed the hope that the matter would not be left to be regulated by Orders-in-Council, as they were liable to amendment from time to time. The new clause was agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. ■-TAWA FLAT TUNNEL ’• = • ROUTES ' Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) yesterday gave notice to ask the Minister of Railways whether the responsible Engineers of the Railways ind Public Works Departments would give the fullest consideration to the suggestions of Mr. H. Smith, appearing in yesterday’s Dominion, of a better route for the Tawa Flat’tunnel,-and which allege many advantages over those of the route which it was understood had already been decided upon?