CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

OXITED FBKSS ASSOCIATIOK. —»T XUBOTHIO TZLEGE4PU. —COPYRIGHT.

AUSTRALIA’S TARIFF.

MR REID’S CENSURE MOTION. CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT POLICY. (Received October 16, 0.45 a.m-) MELBOURNE, October ioTho Right Hon. G. H. Reid moved tho motion of censure on the Feueral Government. There was a packed House. Tho motion condemns the tariff on the ground that it presses upon the necessaries of life and on appliances used in farming, mining and pastoral industries more heavily than upon luxuries, and that it destroys the stability of the revenue by making imposts for national purposes a source of uirtlue profits for a few favoured industries, at tho expense of the whole community. His indictment of tho tariff, he s a id, was that it had no mark upon it in favour of the pioneers of the country, but instead introduced a deformity to benefit tho artificial at tho cost ot the pioneer industries. Australia would be made a preserve for tho great manufacturing centres of Sydney and Melbourne. Such a red Lot protectionist policy was a fraud upon the people of Australia, and if adopted would place the finances of the commonwealth on an unsound basis. Whatever was tho fate of his motion, he was sure the free list would not be allowed to remain in tho present unsatisfactory state. Mr Barton, in replying, said Mr Reid had not shown any way in which, the Government policy was bad. He had not claimed to formulate a perfect tariff, but ho had entirely fulfillea the promises made in his Maitland speeches. Mr Barton has not concluded his reply.

In consequence of _ the agitation throughout the colony in reference to the Federal tariff, the Premier has tele,, graphed to all tho Chambers of Commerce in the colony to ascertain their opinions on the subject. In tlle_ course of .his telegram, he said the tariff proposed by .the Australian Commonwealth Government was one which had an important bearing on tho colony’s export trade, and the question was of such importance to the country that the Gov. eminent was considering what steps, if any, were desirable in order to protect the colony’s trade, which, ag a result of the high tariff imposed, specially against New Zealand, would bo affected to some extent. Ho would bo glad if the Chambers would confer, and favour the Government with an opinion upon the al.. tered condition of things, and what effect they thought the Federal tariff Would have upon tho producers and export trade of the colony. Ho would also be glad to receive any suggestions or proposals the Chambers might agree upon in connection with tho question before it was finally discussed in Cabinet. In this connection also the Premier has sent a circular telegram to tho principal proprietors of sawmills in New Zea, land, stating that tho tariff proposed to make important alterations in the duty on New Zealand timber taken into Australia. Ag tho question was important to the timber industry of the colony, he would be glad if the sawmill proprietors could hold a conference in Wellington to consider it. He took this course, as the Government contemplated taking such action as might seem most advisable to protect the sawmilling interests. Hb desired the proprietors to, confer, and- appoint delegates, and arrange the time it would bo convenient to hold a conference. On receipt of a reply he would suggest the date, which would require to be very soon.