HARVESTER TRUST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5732, 30 October 1905, Page 7

HARVESTER TRUST.

GOVERNMINT’S BILL. COUNTRY OBJECTIONS. In Iho House of Representatives on Saturday, Mr Seddon moved the second reading'of tho Agricultural Implement Man.duel lire f mpci'i at mil and Sale Rill, the provisions of which appeared in Saturday’s Times.” Mr Seddon said lie believed any objections that there might bo to the bill oociu bo removed when it was in. committee. Ho could not conccivo that j any member, realising the responsibility ease ipen him, could allow an important industry to run the nisi; ol being ruined before Parliament met again, lie (piite agreed the question of monopolies should have been dealt with last session, hut whose fault was it that- it was not grappled with ? V. hat was the use of talking about tho larger question when they were face to face with tho imminent peril of an industry which paid oat over £BO,OOO in wages last year, and m which half a million of capital was invested? Unless they took action, all tho men might be thrown out of employment, and the industry might never recover. It was necessary they should provide some preventive without prejudicing the users of implements, and he would undertake to say that if these proposals were referred to the farmers, and it was explained to them what a small number of implements was involved,' there would bo a general response, and they would allow tins preventive measure to be placed on tho statute book. If they were not prepared to do that, thou Parliament was not justified in giving them all tho privileges and assistance they enjoyed. Tho bill said if the status quo was maintained, and there was no undue Or unfair interference, tin’ll the law should be a dead letter. But if trusts and monopolies evidenced any activity, then tho bill would become a real, live statute. But it could only he acted on by the advice of a board. On this board wou.d bo the president of the Panniers’ Hmv.i, a representative appointed by tho agricultural societies and tho employers’ representative on tho Arbitration Court. Mr Massey; Ho is a protectionist. Mr Seddon; I think you will find Mr Brown has always been a supporter of capital. Ho is the representative of tho employers. Mr J. Allen: I don’t think it’s fair to say that. Mr Seddon; But he is elected by them, and most employers represent capital. Mr Hogg: -Where do tho people come in? A '"oiee; Nowhere. Mr Hogg: You take tho power away from tho people entirely. (Laughter.) Mr Seddon ; Tho board may recommend, but the responsibility of acting rests with the Government. Mr Hogg: It is Russian legislation pure and simple—an autocracy. Mr Seddon: I would not like to see the farmers put in the hands of a foreign trust that would crush tho lifeblood out of tho industry. 1 more tho second rending. Air Massey regretted that tho bill had beer, left to such a late hour. If ho was quite certain the Harvester Trust would keep up unfair competition for any length of time he would support tho measure, but ho did not believe it would. Therefore, ho thought tiio bill should he held over until next June. They could not show him that any industry was menaced, and tho producers of the country would not .submit to protection being sot up. He also opposed tho proposal with regard to tho constitution of the board. He thought' tho bill should expire in August next instead of in September, for tho sooner this question was dealt with by the new Parliament the better. Tlio only saving clause in tho bill was tho repeal clause. Ho hoped that; if tho bill did pass there would he no necessity for its operation.

Mr Hogg regarded the bill as being manifestly unconstitutional, and was astonished that the Premier shook] bring down, a bill of this kind in the dying hours of the session. It was panic legislation which lie strongly opposed, for the rights of the people wore being relegated to a board of interested and irresponsible people. It was protection run amok. Mr Buddo did not think that the bill met tho position whic hhad arisen. Ho suggested that tho board should make inquiries and report within ten days of tho opening of the next Parliament, and, if necessary, taxation could bo imposed accordingly. Mr 'Lanrenson hoped that tho farmers* representatives in the House would not set up a factious opposition against a bill that was moderation from beginning to end. In view of the threatened extinction of an important industry by a gigantic trust, steps must be taken to meet it. Ho trusted, their fanning friends would give them a hand in protecting the industries of this colony. Mr Duthio saw no occasion for the bill at all. Mu Buchanan said if taxation was to bo imposed it should be done by the people’s representatives, and not by tho methods proposed in this bill. Mr Taylor pointed out that the bill did not pretend to solve the question. It was a compromise. Tho effect of tho bill would bo to show that Parliament recognised the existence of the trust, and that the spirit of the House xvas to prevent the Harvester Trust being successful in this colony. He was inclined to think that tho bill would prevent tho trust from setting up an elaborate organisation for the ruin of our industries, which tho trust would do unless interfered with by Parliament.

Mr Wilford said the bill was a compromise, and as such would bo accepted by those who desired in eonio way to deal with the operations of this American trust. America was no friend of Now Zealand. If it was not possible to nip tho operations of the trust in tho bud, then let them curtail theea operations as much as possible. Mr R. McKenzie saw no necessity lor such panic legislation. Tho thing was absurd, and there was no necessity for tho House to become hysterical. No proof had yet been given that any harm had been done. He moved that the bill be read that day six months. Mr Kirkbride, in seconding the amendment, thought they should bo very careful indeed in prohibiting manufactures from Canada coming into this colony, seeing that Canada, as part of tho British Empire, was always

ready to give preferential trade to any i other part of the British dominions. ' Ho objected to Parliament delegating it? powers to any board, and suggested 1 deferring the measure until it could \ bo considered by tho summer conference of farmers, to bo held shortly at ! Christchurch.

A lengthy debate followed, Air Harding declining that he would use all the forms of the House in an endeavour to prevent the bill being placed on the statute book (a threatened stonewall). Air AlcKc-nzio's amendment was lost by 45 votes to 18. Tho second reading of tho bill was carried on tho voices. On tho motion for tho committal of the hill, Air R. McKenzie moved that tho bill bo committed throe months hence, in order to give farmers an opportunity of discussing what tho bill proposed. Air Harding seconded the amendment. A protracted debate in the nature of a. stonewall followed. .At 8 p.m. Air Moss moved tho adjournment of tho debate. This was seconded by Air Hawkins. Lost by 35 votes to 23. Tho motion for committal was then agreed to on tho voices.