PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9091, 27 June 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[by telegraph.—press

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday.

The Speaker took his seat at 2.30. Dr. Pollen brought up the report of the committee appointed to reasons for insisting upon the Legislative Council amendments in tho Chinese Bill. The reasons, which were very lengthy, were agreed to.

SCAB AT MIRANDA. In answer to Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Stevens said there had been a small outbreak of scab at the Miranda, Frith of Thames ; and, on the motion of Mr. Peter, it was resolved that the strict quarantine regulations recommended by the Australian Stock Conference, held at Sydney in ISS6, be adopted by Now Zealand.

THE PROPERTY TAX. On the motion of Mr. Miller, it was resolved, " That a return be laid on the table showing what increase of property tax revenue would have been receivable during the past financial year if the exemptions nad only included persons owning £100 worth of property."

THE SHEEP ACT. On the motion of Mr. Johnson, it was agreed, "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the working of the Sheep Department."

BILLS ADVANCED.

Tho Criminal Code Bill was read a third time and passed. The debate on the second reading of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1575, Amendment Bill was adjourned till Thurs-

day. The Council rose at 4.45 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House met at half-past two p.m. THE TARIFF DEBATE.

The Customs Duties Bill was further considered in committee.

Tea, 6d per lb. Captain Russell moved, " That this item be reduced to 4d per lb." He said he had not made this motion because of any Freetrade or Protection views, but because he thought it would press hardly on people who wers" not in a position to bear it. He was also opposed to levying such a large amount of additional taxation, and he felt convinced that further reductions in the expenditure could be made. There being some misunderstanding between the Chairman and Captain Russell as to the exact words of the amendment,

Captain Russell then moved, That tho item be struck out, with a 4 view of substituting 4d per lb." Sir H. Atkinson said it was unreasonable for any member to propose such a motion as this. He wished the House to clearly understand that tho tea duty was an integral part of the Budget, and if the House rejected it, Government would have to consider as to how far their Budget was acceptable by the House. The member for Hawke's Bay considered there should be no more taxation, but if Captain Russell could show how it could be avoided at present he should have been in his (tho Premier's) place. Captain Russell said he had simply moved his motion as it appeared on the order paper. He asserted that the present tariff would do more to injure the credit of the colony than anything else that could happen. Messrs. Buchanan and Thompson (Auckland) regretted the tone of the Premier's speech. Mr. Seddon was surprised to hear the Premier intended taking Captain Russell's motion as a vote of no confidence. He spoke at some length on the question, and said he should vote against any increase of the tea duty. Mr. Peacock, to simplify, the matter, said he should move that 6d be altered to 4d.

Mr. Hutchison said the proposed tax on tea was a most iniquitous one, and he cared not who led, he would follow in voting against it. Mr. Ballance considered raising the school age a far greater injury than this tea duty, and yet those Members who opposed the duty were in favour of the former course. He did not like the duty, because it was an article of general consumption, but he liked still less striking off other services which the people were accustomed to, and he should therefore vote for the increased tea duty. Mr. Peacock said that the Premier had formerly invited the House to consider this question without any such consequences as he had now alluded to of making it a Ministerial question. He should vote for the reduction of the tea duty, as he thought the Government should go still further in retrenchment than they had hitherto done. Mr. Menteath twitted those members who called themselves friends of the working men in the House who were now supporting a tax, three-fourths of which would fall on the working classes. He contended that they were distinctly told in the Financial Statement that the tea duty was to go'to the payment of subsidies, and to nothing else. If the tea duty were rejected it meant only one of two things —either that the Government must resign, or they must cease payment of subsidies. He had voted with other gentlemen now on the Government benches against the increase of the tea duty in 1885, and the same arguments existed now as then. He should'vote against any increase. Mr. Goldie was satisfied that all the reductions had not been made that could be made, and he contended that if the Civil Service were put in the hands of commercial men, it could be still further reduced by £150,000. He was opposed to the tea duty and he should vote against it. Mr. Cadman, as a moderate Protectionist, would oppose the increase on the tea duty. Several other members having spoken, Sir H. Atkinson said the position the Government would take up was a very clear one. He had stated in the Financial Statement that the Government, after careful consideration, had come to the conclusion that the payment of subsidies should be continued. He had certainly invited the House to consider the Budget impartially, and that he should be glad to accept suggestions, but he also told them that ne would not allow his Budget to be torn in pieces by any party. He now stated that he considered the tea duty an integral part of the Government proposals, and gentlemen who voted on it must take the responsibility of anything they did. If the reduction of the duty were carried ho should at once move that progress be reported so as to consider the position of the Government.

The motion for striking out the item was put and lost on the voices. Captain Russell then moved that tho duty be reduced to 4d. The motion for the reduction of the item to 4d was put and lost by 42 to 35, and the duty of 6d per lb. was carried. Sir H. Atkinson moved to report progress, to enable the Imprest Supply to be brought on. Agreed to, on the understanding that the tariff should be resumed later on in the evening. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at half-past severe. THE GOVERNOR'S SALARY.

Replying to Mr. Taylor, Sir H. Atkinson said there was no truth in the report that the Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill had been vetoed by the Imperial Government; but the Government had received despatches on the subject asking them to reconsider it. The Premier added that the Government were not disposed to reconsider it. •justice Johnston's successor.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply to consider the Granting Imprest Supply Bill, Mr. Seddon moved as an amendment, "That it is inadvisable that the Government should longer delay the appointment of a Judge as successor to the late Justice Johnston.

Sir H. Atkinson said that Mr. Seddon's action was not only unprecedented, but a serious blow to responsible Government. He told the House that the Government would not be driven in this matter by articles in the newspapers, and it was already decided that the appointment would not be filled up till after the session was over. If the Government were not considered fit to perform their duty properly in this respect, they should be removed from office. He would be no party to appointing a judge owing to newspaper clamour. As to the ' amendment of the member for Kumara, it was absolutely indecent to appoint a successor to Mr. Justice Johnston till the Government had received a despatch in the usual way announcing that gentleman's death. He hoped the House would reject the amendment by a largo majority.

The amendment was lost on the voices. supply. The Souse then went into committee of Supply, when the Imprest Supply Bill for £200,000 was passed through all its stages. PUBLIC WOKKS EXPENDITURE. Replying to Mr. Seddon, Sir H. Atkinson said the House would be glad to hear that the public works expenditure for the last three months was £60,000 a month.

deficiency bills. Sir H. Atkinson also asked for authority to renew Deficiency Bills to the amount of £700,000. Agreed to.

THE tariff.

Tho Customs Duties Bill was further considered in committee. Tinware and tin stamped into shape, 25 per cent. Sir H. Atkinson moved to strike out "tin stamped into shape" and to insert "tinsmiths furniture, not otherwise enumerated." Agreed to. Tobacco for sheepwash, 3d per lb. Mr. Bruce moved that this be struck out.

Agreed to. Tobacco, unmanufactured, 2s 6d per lb. Sir H. Atkinson moved to reduce this to 2s. Agreed to. Twine, 15 per cent. Sir H. Atkinson moved to insert " binder " before twine.

A lengthy discussion followed, during which

Sir J. Hall moved that the item be struck out altogether, which was lost on tho voices, and " binder" added. Sir J. Hall then moved "That it be reduced to 10 per cent.," which was lost by 52 to 24 and the item was retained. Sir H. Atkinson moved to insert tex tile piece goods, other than cotton and silk, 20 per cent. He explained that he proposed to admit union shirting free. Agreed to. ine (Australian), 5s per gallon. Mr. Bruce asked how much revenue the Premier expected from this ? Mr. Pyke movejl, " That the duty be reduced to 35."

Sir H. Atkinson said the revenue expected from this duty was about £650 a year. The item retained.

Woollen piece goods and woollen manufacture, 20 per cent., were struck out, so as to arrange for a better definition elsewhere. Wool pockets, Is 3d per dozen. Mr. Bruce moved, " That this be struck out."

Lost, and tho item was retained.

Anchovies were added to tho free list. Bolts and nuts, coil springs, blank nuts, and bolt ends were struck out.

Cotton piece goods and linen Hollands were struck out ; flax sheeting inserted. The limit on the freo list was fixed at 7d per yard. Major Atkinson said, in reply to Dr. Newman, that he proposed to include in the free list fire-engines, fire-bricks, etc., bananas, gelatine, dried plates, and lenses. Mr. Seddon moved to admit locomotives in the free list, but the Chairman ruled the motion out of order, on the ground that it would increase taxation, which private members could not do.

The Premier promised to consider the item.

Sir H. Atkinson moved to report progress. The House rose at twenty-five minutes to twelve p.m.