FEDERAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 275, 29 November 1901, Page 3

FEDERAL TARIFF.

f-,y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Melbourne, Nov. 28. In the Federal House Mr Kingston carried a proposal to reduce the duty on candles and raw materials for their manufacture, lard, and refined animal fat, to one penny per pound. Mr Watson carried an amendment reducing the duty on chocolate, cocoa, butter, and caramel to one penny a pound. The duties on coffee, chicory, and eggs were carried. The Government agreod to withdraw the duty of two shillings on New Zealand oysters, after a protest from Mr McMillan that be considered they had gone far enough in the way of prohibiting New Zealand products.

Sydney, Nov. 28. Tho petition to Mr Kingston points out that Sydney is the natural entrepot of tho Island trade. The value of imports into Fiji from Now South Wales alone is over 80 per cent, of the whole of the imports from Australia and Now Zealand. Since tho tariff has been in force the steamers which previously came laden with fruit havo arrived practically empty, and tho obvious result is that the steamship owners must oither relinquish tho trade, or so increase the freights as to be unprofitable to Fiji merchants to operate in this market. Tho duty on Island bananas is absolutely prohibitive. Certainly they are produced in North Queensland, but by Chinese, and it is urged that it is not policy for the Federal Government to encourage aliens to settle in the Commonwealth. Messrs Burns, Philp, and Company state that, as a result of tho tariff, they are in communication with New Zealand, as they may find it necessary to open a branch there. Received fi.s p.m., Nov. 28.

Melbourne, Nov 28.

Duties on fruits and vegetables, in halfpints, pints, quarts, and gallons, were agreed to. Mr McMillan moved that fruits not elsewhere included be placed on the free list, but it was negatived. The Government, howover, accepted Is per cental, instead of 2s ns proposed. Tho debate waxed hob, Mr Turner angrily tolling Mr McMillan not to mako a single compromise in the tariff, because ho might get fruit on the freo list, instead of accepting tho Govermont’s oiler of a shilling. Mr Watson moved to reduce bananas to Is Gd per cental, and the Government accepted Is. Mr McMillan vainly askod Government to adjourn, as the Houso had been sitting since 10.30 yesterday. Then ho moved that tho Chairman do leave the chair.

A vigorous stonewall followed, the intention of the Opposition being to prevent tho resumption of tho tariff debate till this afternoon. (Received 10.15 p.m., Nov. 28.) Melbourne, Nov. 28. The stonewnll was kept going till tho luncheon adjournment. On resuming at two o’clock another hour was spont in oxplanatiou of tho position of both sides. Mr McMillan said ho was satisfied, tho Opposition having forcibly expressed its protest against tho action of the Government, to withdraw his motion. Consideration of the tariff was resumed. Received Nov. 29, 1.13 a.m. Duties of 13 Gd per cental on wheat and malting barley were passed after an attompt to place tho former on the freo li3t. The Government agreod to a reduction to a half-penny per pound on oatmeal, rolled oats, wheat meal, pearl barley, and Scotch barloy. Mr Watson carried an amendment reducing tho duty on maize and cornflour to a half-penny ; bran, pollard, sharps, Is, ard grain pulse not elsewhere included 2s 6d per contal.