GENERAL ASSEMBLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4912, 14 August 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[FROM OUR SI'ECIAI. COREESPONDF.NT.] GOVFRSMRST BUILDINGS, Wellington, Mond»3\ A STATK OF UNEASINESS. Tiir.nß liave been much running to ami fro and manifold consultations during the List three i l .-.;. k, and tho result of it .ill H, that Ministers intend to move to-morrow for the discharge from the Order Paper of the motion for the second reading of TUB NATIVE LANDS UuUKT IiILL, With the view of checkmating the amendment of Mr. Riillancp. They propose ,/urther to bring in another bill this session to put a stop on all further private purchases, or dealing with native lands for a year, at the end of which timo the Government will be prepared with a proper measure. This is not supposed to be likely to produce satisfactory feelings cither among the authors of the bill, or among the natives who have entered into negotiations for the sale of land, or to tho intending purchasers who have advanced money under the provisions of the existing Act, and have obtained survey to otherwise carry out the provisions of the Act. I believe a considerable difficulty exi3ts in the mind of the Government about this latter business, and I hear that some of the Maori members of both Houses are very much dissatisfied with the proposal. They would rather have the bill of 1873 than either the new one or this proposed stoppage of sales. Opinions differ as to whether the Government can override Mr. Ballance's amendment on the second reading by interposing a second amendment for the discharge of the bill. Mr. Ballance declines to move an inch, and he and the party he acts with will stand by the amendment. This, it will be reed lected, states that the bill is "unsatisfactory, and that it should be withdrawn with a view to alter its provisions, so as to make it more in conformity with the expressed wishes and real interests of the people of both races," &c. On the one hand it is argued that this amendment is hostile, and cannot be superseded by a mere motion to discharge the bill. On the other hand, it is contended, and that too by no mean authority, that the discharge of the bill would practically be a compliance with the amendment, and, in fact, a tacit acknowledgment of its being unsatisfactory. Ministers, 1 believe, say they have secured a majoiity in favour of this course, but there will bo some angry debate on the subject tomorrow, for the blood of both parties is up, and this movement to check the Opposition is not liked. It is, however, even if successful, not received as at all a. victorious movement.

A CUSTOMS. RETUUN. A comparative return, asked for by Mr. Girborne, showing the Customs revenue for the last three iinanoial years, under the several heads under noted, lias been laid on the table, distinguishing ud v.iioran from other article?. For tho year ending 30th June, 137;">, the duties received were :ik follows :—Spirits, £.113,81:2 : tobacco, i'lOS.fllO; tea, .Cl)S,o7l> : suuar, £!14. - JHO; tui raloiem —on apparel and sUrps, £ - 27,30S ; bags and sacks, £9u."i7 ; blankets, £SI4S ; bunts, shoes, and leather, £15,590; drapery, haberdashery, and soft foods. £173.(J50 ; carpeting and druggcting, i'al'JS ; china and earthenware, £7745; drusip, £(iSIS : hardware and ironmongery, £2072 ; stationery, £9217 ; miscellaneous, £55,4215 ; wine duty, .CoUJOS ; bottled beer, £-.21.80S ; draught beer, i'3-2'27 ; dried fruits, £9077 ; other fixed d_utios, £145.170. For the j-ear ending June. IS/(i, the duties were as follows :— Spirits, £37i>.977 : tobacco, £121,674; tea, £71,51S : sugar, £122,449: ad valor, ,n —apparel, £23,01)1 ; ba-s, £5077 : blankets, £3144 : boots and shoes, £2537 ; drapery, &c, £135,4'2u ; carpeting, £3527 ; china and earthenware, £6239 : drugs, .t'SGOT ; hardware, £19,520 : stationery, £9u77 ; miscollaneous, £92.791 ; wine (lS7t>), £'3S.lil'>S ; bottled beer, £20,745; draught boor, £3171; dried fruits. £13,592; other fix-d duties, £13(i.004. For the year ending June, 1577, the duties were these : Spirfts, £307,251 ; tobacco, £126.72 i) ; tea, £70,510 ; suirir, £126,553 ;ad 'valorem apparel, £10,t!40 : bags, &e., £SIG2 ; blankets, £3131 ; bouts, shoes, and leather, £17,850 ; drapery, haberaashery, ami soft goods, £1'22,82i>: carpetiuc <tc., £4750; china aud earthenware, £7365 ; drugs, £9499; hardware and ironmongery. £18,451 ; stationery, CSS4S : miscellaneous, £575,474 (this niiseella>.ieo-.is in each vear belongs to the ad nilun di class) ; wiiie, £37.D93 ; bottle beer, £19 I>S3 ; diauL'ht beer, £3900 ; dried fruits, £12.700 : other rixed duties, £132,5ci0. 'l'iie object of this return was to show how the duty on ad villoma articles had declined. When these figures are seen ou the tabulated turn this becomes wore apparent. They are as follow :— 1575. IS7IV. 1577. Spirits, lobicco. f:.\ 'andMi-ar .. .. £C4\-J."3 £fi<r : ,\*S £ijo7 :.7fi j'i ri((ra/er,-m:irticle4 I>A.:>ii S-'.Ofi !'.)>.'>rl Vor -.vinn, li.-er, Jruiln, a:nl othfrs.. .. HS.iOZ S;j,liJ iO'l.uc'i Tho tPti's f.r nil „., article- for tliotlir o y.iir ;.rc .. . . j2],-J23,C;i> i1.'i25.313 C1,!59;140. The decline in the ad vilorrm is attracting attention. '