RECIPROCITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 7

RECIPROCITY.

THE PREFERENCE DEBATE IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ■MELBOURNE, September 14.. Mr Hughes objected to the treaty because it imposed £IOO,OOO of increased taxation to: burdens which wore already heavy. Ha hoped that the Government would he content with modifications of the treaty. Mr Wilks contended that it was a mere huckstering bargain, and not conceived in-the real spirit of reciprocity. Mr Bruce Smith urged that New Zealand had broken its contract by re-, ferring the treaty to a Select Committee. He advocated the Commonwealth referring it to the Tariff Commission. . After the defeat of Mr Cook’s amendment, Mr Kelly (New South Wales) moved as an Amendment the words ‘■provided that on imports, the products of the United Kingdom, there shall be collected no duty additional to that fixed by the Customs- Act of 1902.” He said that he wished to test the bona fides of these - who declared themselves in favour of preference to the Mother Country. The amendment was negatived by 28 toll. V

On the motion of Air Deakin, a preliminary resolution, affirming the principle of the treaty, was then put and carried on the voices.

Mr Deakin moved to report progress. He denied that the New Zealand Government had broken its compact. It had referred the treaty to the permanent .committee to which all such questions wore remitted. The. House would have an opportunity of knowing whether any particular items were to be challenged. If there were any, it would be useful to this Parliament to know it. He should also be prepared' l to consider any items for which alterations might be proposed, so that recommendations for* changes might be considered' then by New Zealand. They would be able to receive recommendations of a parallel kind from New Zealand, and so pave the way to a mutual SettlementProgress was reported. AUSTRALIAN PREFERENCE TO BRITAIN. ("Received September 14, 11.9 p.m.) MELBOURNE, September 14. The House of Representatives is discussing the proposal to give preference to-Britain by raising the duties against foreigners. Sir William Lyne, in explaining the proposal, said that it . wad intended merely as the initiation of a great policy. He hoped that eventually there would ho reciprocity with Britain. He proposed first to put a general, resolution to test the feeling of the House. They could afterwards deal with each item of the schedule. After amendments by Mr Cook favouring remitting on British goods the 10 per centum added to the market value of foreign importations, and by Mr Johnson affirming the desirability of preference based on the reduction of duties on. British imports had been negatived the debate on the preference proposals was adjourned. SOUTH ‘ AFRICA.. MELBOURNE, September 14. Mr Deakin has'received a letter from South Africa with reference to reciprocity, from which he gathers that a definite statement may be expected shortly. PRESS CRITICISM. SYDNEY, September 14. ' The' “ Sydney Morning Herald,” dealing in adverse criticism with Mr Boakin’s proposals, says that the fact is, in respect to both the reciprocity treaty and the overtures for preferential trad© with the Mother Country, Mr Deakin has all along had in view the coming elections, and by raising the Customs duties he wants to hide the real issue, which is that the people are against Socialism, and, under the pretence of Imperial patriotism, • he will make another effort for the establishment of n higher tariff, for the imposition of what h© calls scientific protection.