Friday, July 13.

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 127, 26 July 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

Friday, July 13.

BONDED WAREHOUSES DUTY BILL. The Hon. Mr Jollie moved, — " That the House resolve itself in Committee of the whole House, to consider of the giving leave to bring in a Bill to impose a duty on Bonded Warehouses." Mr Dillon Bell said that nothing was yet known of the financial proposals of the Government. Although this was a small matter, he objected to any financial proposals being made by driblets before the financial statement was made. The Hon. Mr Stafford said that he agreed with the principle laid down, but this was rather a departmental matter and would enable a statement to bo made as to the Customs. The Government would not press the motion againt the wish of the House. Major Riehardson hoped that the bill would be deferred until some statement was made as to the amount of duties likely to be levied and the reason why it was introduced. The Hon. Mr Stafford said that some further statements would be made in Committee. Mr Crosbie Ward objected to such a bill being considered until the financial statement was made. The Hon. Mr Jollie had no desire to press the motion against the wishes of the House, but he thought it might be assented to, as it was only a preliminary step. The House then went into Committee. Tho Hon. Mr Jollie said that the bill was rather of an administrative character than otherwise, and was meant to recoup the Government a portion of the expenses necessary in supervising the bonded warehouses. The Chairman of Committees said that no member could vote on a mtater in which he had any direct pecuniary interest. Mr Reynolds replied that he owned a bonded warehouse in Duncdin, but was not the tenant. Mr Hargreaves said that he had a bonded store, but he supposed that he might speak on the subject. It would be desirable to have bonded warehouses well constructed, if that was the object of the bill ; but he knew of no place in which the duties proposed were levied. The hon. member then suggested certain ways in which the Government might economise in managing the Customs in his own province, by having one staff at Christchurch and Lyttelton, instead of two as at present. He hoped the matter would be deferred until some reports were obtained, and begged to move that progress be reported. The Hon. Mr Stafford said that further information would soon be laid on the table. He was certain that these duties were imposed in the other Australian colonies, and rightly, too, for a certain class was much favored by the establishment of these private bonded warehouses, and it was only just that they should pay towards the supervision. The duty proposed was fifty per cent, less than that in other colonies. The present Government entirely concurred in the advisability of having a Customs Department at Cb.ristchiy.-cb., as many merchants were there; when the means of communication between that town and Lyttelton was improved, it would be a question then whether one staff would no f do, but the Government would not anticipate their decision on the matter. The duties proposed were, L30 to a certain capacity, and L5 for every ten tons above that. Mr Dillon Bell said that quite enough had been said to show that it was unadvisable to continue the discussion ; he would propose that progress be reported. The Hon. Mr Stafford said that the Government would not press the matter at present. Mr FitzGerald said that the Government had inadvertently brought forward a subject on which some discussion was likely to arise, and with his usual sagacity, the Premier did not desire to press it. A good deal was said last session against bringing down financial proposals in driblets, yet the Premier appeared to pursue the same practice. (A laugh.)