PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 23 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association).

Wellington, Juno 22 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tne Speaker took his seat at 2.30. PETITIONS. Colonel Brett presented a petition (from Christchurch residents, praying foir the abolition of the totalisator. Mr Stevens presented a petition j from a number of residents in Christchurch, praying that Government would no'lt grant State aid to Roman Catholic schci )ls. SCiB AT AUCKLAND. In answer to Mr Waterhorise, Mr Stevens promised to make enquirh )B touch- ■ ing the case of reported scab at tl le north of Auckland, and make a state ament on Tuesday. THE CHINESE BILL. The reasons assigned by the House of Representatives for disagreein; J o the amendments in the Chinese Bi'l v tore then considered. Dr Pollen moved that the C puncil insist on the amendments made by them. The mofion. was carried on th< > voices. The Council rose at 3.40 till 1 ,'nesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTA TIVES The House met at 2.30. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL, j The Customs Duties Bill wts further considered in Committee, the 1 Minister of Public Works taking charge i !>f the Bill in the absence of the Premier. Globes and chim leys for lan ips, 15 per cent. —Mr Seddon moved 1;0 exempt eletric light lamps.—Lost on vo ices. Grindery.—Hon Mr Mitchels on said it was intended to admit all grii '.deiy free except heel and toe plates. Haberdashery noc otherwis(,) enumerated, 20 per cent —Mr Fulton moved to reduce this to 15 per cent.—Lost; by 43 to 34. Harness, 20 per cent.—Dr Ho dgkinson moved to reduce it to 15 per ce at. —Lost by 49 to 27. 1 , Hats, 20 per cent.—Mr Beetha m moved the reduction to 15 per cent. —Lo at by 53 to 23.

Hessians, 15 per cent.—Was st ruck out at Hon Mr Mitchelson’s instance 1 >y 62 to 15, in order to place it on the free list, Hosiery not otherwise enumen ited, 20 per cent.—Mr Barran moved reduction to 15 per cent. The Freetraders, b;e said, were only testing a few items "of the Tariff, as they considered it hoptlless to contest them in detail and they were anxious to save the time of the Com mittee. The amendment was lost on tho voices. Iren bridges and iron material not otherwise enumerated for construction of bridges, wharves, jetties and patent steps, 20 per cent.—Mr O’Connor moved to strike it out.

Mr E. Richardson supported tho item and pointed out that 5 -on work manufactured iu the colony compared very favorably with the imported article. The amendment was lost on the voices. Iron barbed fencing wire, 2 per cwt.— Mr Eulton movod to reduce this to Is. Considerable discussion ensued, many members urging that this duty would press heavily on the farming interest, and if required for protective purposes, would fail in its object through not being high enough. On the other hand, it was contended that this wire with a little encouragement, could be manufactured in the Colony of sufficiently high stamp to supplant the imported article. To this, it was replied that the colonial wire was of poor quality, and the price of the imported material was rapidly faffing. Messrs Hislop, Fish, Turnbull and others challenged the accuracy of the former contention. On division, the item was retained by 39 to 35. Iron nails, 2s per cwt.—The Hon Mr Mitchelson, on representation of Mr Jones, promised to re-consider the item with a view of increasing the duty. Mr Jones stated with a little more encouragement he knew of his own knowledge that all the nails we wanted could be made in the Colony. Iron pipes (wrought), 5 per cent.—On the motion of Mr Percival, fittings for same were included in the item.

Jewellery, 15 per cent.—Dr Fitchett asked if Government would not increase the duty. Hon. Mr Mitchelson said the item should be re-considered, but he would not guarantee that it should be increased. They had been advised that to raise the duty would lead to smuggling, which, with small articles like jewellery, it was very difficult to prevent. Several members spoke strongly in favor of materially raising the duty on the itom. Leather. —Several members asked to have, tb's item in all its branches held over.-

Mr Fish said he had received some most conflicting telegrams on the subject, and so far as he could see, Government had taken a middle course. Sir Oimond said that raising the duty on belting and belt would have the effect of throwing the whole of the trade into the hands of the manufacturer,

The item was eventually passed as it stood, with the exception that buff split was altered from 3d to 2d, and the words, rough tanned ” added after. India Kip, 2d per lb. —Hon Mr Mitchelson intimated that all leather duties would he reconsidered. Machinery not other wif e enumerated, 20 per cent.—Mr Ba-.-'on moved to strike this item out. Hon Mr Mitchelson said this item wot d have to be reconsidered.

Amend lost by 46 to 22. Tne House then adjourned at 5.30