VICTORY BY TWELVE VOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6313, 13 September 1907, Page 4

VICTORY BY TWELVE VOTES

Tho most important part of last night’s business during consideration of tho tariff was the sequel to tho incident ot last week, when, it will bo recollected, by a coalition of Opposition and mining and dairying interests, Mr Herries succeeded in carrying a motion, by 32 votes to 30, against the Government to abolish the duty of 5 per cent, proposed on certain machinery used in those industries. Tho position after that decision was to leave this machinery in the “not otherwise enumerated class,” bearing a duty of 20 per cent. It was thus the task of last week’s victors, in order-to accomplish their purpose, to move that this machinery be placed on the free list. This Mr Guinness sought to accomplish by moving accordingly. As everything had boon pretty well said on the subject, from a debating standpoint, the discussion was not very spirited. Tho member for Napier made an appeal that the parochial feeling in this matter should be cast aside, and that the national spirit in regard to the tariff should predominate, and in expressing this opinion he crossed swords with the member for Grey and the member for Ohinemuri, who made a claim on behalf of the miner. But the miner, the Premier emphasised, was not affected to the extent of one penny piece by this duty; its removal or retention would not increase his wages, nor in any way improve his position. The duty at the most only meant £IOOO (dairying and mining interests included), though it meant that encouragement would be given to the local foundries. The Premier niade it clear that, although the forces operating against the Government on the former occasion had imposed (unconsciously perhaps) a 20 per cent, duty, whereas the Government only proposed 5 per cent., the Government was quite content to leave the duty as originally proposed;—s per cent. The voting on the amendment was in favour of the Government, not to place this class of machinery on the tree list, by twelve votes—34 to 22, although it was anticipated, in the light of last week’s numbers, that tho voting would have been much closer, Tho soreness, however, has passed away., Excellent progress was made, and this week should see Iho tariff on the statute-book.