NEW MOTOR TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20655, 29 August 1930, Page 13

NEW MOTOR TARIFF.

PROTEST AGAINST ACTION. PARLIAMENT NOT CONSULTED. COMPLAINT BY MR. FLETCHER. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. A protest against tlic action of the Government in placing Canadian motorcars and accessories on the general tariff without consulting Parliament was voiced by Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent— Grey Lynn) when speaking in the Imprest Supply debate in tlio House to-day.

" Two days before tho announcement was made by the Prime Minister that the Government had taken action in connection with the Canadian tariff, this House was dealing with customs duties," said Mr. Fletcher. " 1 wish to put on record that this House should have been consulted before any definite step was taken by the executive of this Parliament. Under no circumstances should Cabinet deal with a matter of this kind in the fashion it did while Parliament is sitting.

" Tho whole foundation of Parliament rests on the control of finance. This is a matter that definitely affects the finances of tho country and the action of the Government is consequently an insult to the Parliament of New Zealand. I wish to know why the Government took this step. This is not the first time that this Government has done this sort of thing, and it has been done by Governments in the past." The Hon. W. Down in Stewart (Reform —Dunedin West) said that if the action of tho Government was taken in order that it might be in a better position to enter into negotiations with Canada, he was inclined to think that no overwhelming necessity existed for a debato on the question at present. There was no doubt room for a good deal of diverse opinion as to the action taken. It did appear, however, that anyone representing New Zealand for tho time being should be in the position of being able to assume that Parliament was behind him, even if criticism might be expressed. Tho acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, said the negotiations were of considerable delicacy. It was not desirable that too much publicity should bo given to that class of negotiation. Negotiation had commenced with the late Canadian administration and continued with the new one without any satisfactory result.

Apart from the negotiations, it was felt that one particular class of trade should not have any advantage over another. It was felt that tho impost placed on Canadian motor vehicles and accessories would place the Prime Minister and the Comptroller of Customs in a stronger position in carrying nut their negotiations with tho Canadian Government. He agreed \\ith Mr. Stewart that it would not l>e wise to do anything that would lead the Canadian Government to believe that Parliament was not behind the Prime Minister.

NEW BANK PROPOSAL. NEGOTIATIONS FOR CHARTER. POSSIBILITY OF PRIVATE BILL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. If the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives can be suspended a private bill will be introduced this session to extend the period in within which a. charter may bo granted to the projected London and Xew Zealand Bank. A bill, sponsored by Mr. J. G. Elliott, ex-M.P. for Oroua, was passed in 1928, and provided, inter alia, that the bank should be proclaimed if before July 31 last the Governor-General was satisfied t"ie promoter had formed an association, tho members of which had undertaken to pay not less than £1,000,000 toward the funds of the association. Mr. A. M. Samuel, Reform member for Thames, has undertaken to take charge of the bill if it can be arranged to suspend the Standing Orders to permit its introduction. UNIFORMS ANT) BADGES. LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION. GIRL GUIDES MOVEMENT. [JIY TKLIXiUAPII. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON. Thursday. The Chartered Associations (Protection of Names and Uniforms) Bill was introduced and read a first time in the Legislative Council to-day. The primary intention of the bill is to enable, protection to be given to the name, uniforms and badges of the Girl Guides Association. The Boy Scout Association is already protected by the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act, 1918, but no similar protection is afforded at present to tho Girl Guides Association. Having regard to tho association's rules, it is considered that an amendment of tho Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act would not bo an appropriate method of affording the desired protection.