Many Divisions on Schedules

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 220, 20 September 1934, Page 7

Many Divisions on Schedules

Customs Items Lengthily

Delated

BEER REVISION AGAIN UNDER FIRE

Per Press Association, WELLINGTON, Last Night.

Consideration of the schedules to tho Customs Bill was resumed in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr. M. J. Savage called for a division on the reduction of tho duty on chicory, contending that was an industry in which employment could be given to New Zealand people. After tho bells being rung, on a point of order being raised, it was found that, if tho division was adverse to the proposed duties, no duty at all would bo levied, and the division was not taken, the item being retained. Mrs. E. E. McCombs moved to have the duty removed from cocoa, it being an article of common use in New Zealand. Hon. J. G. Coates said tho Government could not accept the amendment, as it would be unfair to do so, as a considerable number of people were employed iii Now Zealand manufacturing cocoa. Mr. Savage asked how many pcoplo were employed in that industry. Mr. Coates said 205,000 lbs. of cocoa was manufactured by one firm in New Zealand in the first seven months of the present year, and for tho same period 257,000 lbs. of cocoa was imported. Mrs. McCombs said she had thought only a small amount of cocoa was manufactured in New. Zealand, and in the light of the information given she would withdraw her amendment. Mr. W. Nash moved an amendment in the direction of leaving the duties on chocolate as they were previously. The amendment was lost by 39 votes to 25.

Exception was taken to the reduction of the duty on roasted coifee, but again, after the bells were rung, the item was retained without a division.

Referring to the reduction of the duty on eollee essence, Mr. Savage protested on behalf of the Opposition to attacks being made on New Zealand industry. The action his party could take was limited; it could only call for divisions and make a nuisance of itself, but he did not desire to do that. Tea Versus Boer, However, when the item reducing tho duty on tea to threepence per lb. came forward, Mr. Savage said he intended to divide the House, as that was au item used in almost every house in New Zealand. If they could reduce tho duty on beer they could do tho same on tea. Ho moved an amendment in the direction of admitting British tea free.

Mr. Coates said there was no analogy between beer and tea. The duty was removed from beer to save revenue; a reduction on tea would bo to lose revenue, and the Government could not agree to do that. The amendment was lost by 37 votes to 30.

Mr. H. S. S. Kyle contended that there should be a total embargo on bacon and hams from overseas. New Zealand was endeavouring to build up tho pork industry; yet the doors were left open.

Hon. J. G. Cobbc, who was temporarily in charge of the Bill, said the importation of bacon and hams was totally prohibited. Mr. A. M. Samuel urged that an embargo should be placed on tho importation of blackberries, as already more than enough damage had been done in New Zealand through tho introduction of blackberries.

After the tea adjournment adverse comment on the removal of tho duty from fruit trees, flowering trees and plants was voiced by several members, who said that removal of the duty would havo a harmful effect on nurserymen, who had for years been building up a trade. Mr. A. M. Samuel suggested that the Minister should remove blackberry from item 40 and place a duty of 50 0 per cent, on it. Mr. Coates said blackberry was already in the country and no purpose would be served by putting on such a duty. He had power by Order-in-Coun-cil to prohibit importation. Mr. Samuel: Will you do it? Mr. Coates: You mustn’t ask me to make a promise like that. He added that ho was sympathetic and thought his colleagues in Cabinet would be agreeable to issuing such an order. There were somo species of blackberry that did not spread at all. The Department of Agriculture kept a strict guard against the other variety. Duty on British Honey. Mr. W. J. Jordan moved that the duty on British honey be retained at twopence instead of ono penny. Ho stated that New Zealand was a large honey-consuming country and she had a surplus of production, but her London market was being threatened by the assistance given by tho Canadian Government to Canadian honey. There was also a danger of disease entering the Dominion in honey. Mr. Coates said there had been no importation of honey for seven years. Even with a reduced duty, little honey could be imported. Tho only danger coming was from Canada, but that would bo kept in mind when the now treaty was being discussed. The National Beekeepers’ Association had approved of the reduction to ono penny per lb. Mr. Jordan’s amendment was lost by 32 votes to 24.

Mr. D. G. Sullivan moved an amendment that the duties on pickles should remain at 3s per gallon British and 6s per gallon general, as formerly. Mr. Sullivan believed that the proposed new tariff halved the protection for tho local industry. Those engaged in the industry were seriously concerned; everything connected with the industry was locally made and a great many girls wero employed. Mr. Coates said the local manufac-

turers 'had little to fear, as recent importations wero negligible. The amendment was lost, a division not being called for. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson moved an amendment to tho sugar item, providing that sugar used exclusively by commercial honey producers for feeding bees should come in duty free. He said a reduction would greatly benefit beekeepers, many of whom had to feed their bees on. sugar during tho wintci. Mr. Coates said the Government wanted to help the beekeeper. If it could find some satisfactory method of denaturing sugar, it would adopt it to assist beekeepers and give a remission of the duty on sugar. In view of the Minister’s assurance, the amendment was not pressed. An amendment to leave the beer duly at 2s per gallon, instead of reducing it to Is 9d, was moved by Mr. H. T. Armstrong. After some discussion on the lines of the arguments previously used, tho amendment was lost by 39 votes to 21. A motion was moved to reinstate tho duty of 6s per gallon on wine (other than sparkling) instead of 4s as proposed. Mr. Coates said New Zealand xvine was not affected by the reduction. The amendment was lost on tho voices. Progress was reported and the House rose at 12.35 a.m. Business in the Legislative Council Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time on t.hc motion of Hon. M. Fagan. On the motion of Hon. R. Masters, the Council recorded its sense of the faithful services rendered to New Zealand by Mr R. A. Loughnan. The Council' rose at 3.5 until Wednesday next. ,

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