HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 221, 21 September 1895, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 The Hon. Mr Seddon paid he would inform the House on Tuesday what Bills the Government intended to drop. THE TARIFF. The Hon. Mr Ward moved that the House go into Committee of "Ways and Means. Mr Millar moved as an amendment, that m the opinion of this House there were some articles omitted from the Tariff wtiich were more suitable for taxation than many of those which were provided for, and that steps should be taken to have this remedied. He did not jn^ve this amendment m any hostile spirit, tut he thought it might serve to call the attenton of the House to two questions, viz., whether private members had a voice m the taxation of the country and whether it was advisable to increase the excise duty on Colonial beer. The Hon. Mr Seddon hoped the House would now get to work seriously with the Tariff. It was necessary to go into Committee of Ways and Means to make the schedule of the Bill correspond with the resolutions passed by the House. It was undeniable that some items were omitted from taxation which might be included, but it was Bimply impossible to bring i own a Tariff to please everybody. He hoped, therefore, the House would negative the amendment. Mr R. MclCenzie urged a reduc- 1 tion of taxation on articles used by miners. Mr Millar's amendment was lost by 33 to 22, and the House went into Committee of Wpys and Means Several minor amendments m the Tariff resolutions were formally agreed to, the discussion being reserved for the schedule of the Bill. Mr Thomas McKenzie moved an additional resolution, providing for the free admission of certain classes of flannelettes, but this was lost by 42 to 17. Mr Thomas McKenzie moved a proviso to the fruit duties, that from the 30th April to the 30th November m each year no duty exceeding a halfpenny per pound be levied or collected on all apples and pears imported into New Zealand. The Hon Mr Sed'ion objected to this attempt to defeat by a side-wind what the House had already decided. The proviso was carried by 30 to 29. Mr Maslin moved that the item rice be added to the free list. Lost by 34 to 24. Mr Carnell moved that cement required for harbor works be admitted duty free. Mr Ward said the revenue could not afford this loss; besides, all local bodies were as much entitled to this concession as harbor boards. After a very long discussion, Mr Carnell accepted the suggestion of Mr T. McKenzie to make the am endment apply to cement used by all local governing bodies. The amendment was lost, by 36 to 18. Mr Millar moved an amendment to provide that spirits received into the colony must have been three years m bond. He did this m order to check the admission of a cheap j class of spirits. The Chairman ruled the amendment out of order, but faid Mr Millar could bring it forward when m Committee on the Bill. Mr E. McKenzie moved that the duty on candles be reduced from twopence to one penny per pound. Lost by 35 to 18. The House rose at 5.30.