DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS

Evening Star, Issue 7799, 21 December 1888, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS

CHRISTCHUR*CH, December 21.

To-day a deputation of the Knights of Labor, with Messrs Taylor, Joyce, and Loughrey, M.H.R.s, interviewed Ministers re the unemployed. It was stated that a large number of men was wanted North who were not professional unemployed. The Knights of Labor disclaimed connection with the latter. The Premier expressed pleasure at the manner in which the deputation had brought the matter forward, and promised to consider if anything further could be done to provide work ana land for settlement. The Farmers' Co-operative Association interviewed the Premier re the alteration in the railway grain tariff, and were informed that the Government intended to make no alteration except reducing the fine for overweight. « A deputation representing the soft goods dealers (introduced by Mr Hulbert) next saw the Premier, and stated that they had no objection to the appointment of an expert as an examiner of drapery for the Customs, nor to Mr Shannon individually. They diew attention to incongruities*in the tariff relating to cotton goods, carpets, hollands, sheetings, etc., recommending that a uniform rate of 10 per cent, should bo put on them instead of, the present oharges. They sug- < gested the publication of a full catalogue of i goods imported by the trade with the duty specified after each item, and offered to ■ assist in drawing up such a catalogue, i They thought that the expense of Mr' Shannon's appointment would not be re- \ couped from the losses through fraud dis-i covered by him. Sir Harry Atkinson said \ that Mr Shannon's appointment waß only temporary, and promjsed tp give attention) to (he suggestions, of the deputatjop.

The Selwyn County Council requested that the subsidy clue to them might be paid, though all the road boards in their district have not sent in financial returns to the Government. The Premier said that the ordinary practice could not be departed from.