POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12801, 23 October 1903, Page 5

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

A GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. (From Obii Own Courespoxdest.)

WELLINGTON, October 22. Tho action of the House last night in throwing out one of tho Government bills will evidently have some effect in tho direction of shortening the session. At all events, a caucus of the Government party will probably be held to-morrow. No doubt at this caucus it will be determined which bills shall bo gone on with and which shall bD abandoned. Members are undoubtedly getting very restive. We may, therefore, expect to hoar details of tho first "slaughter of the innocents" at an early date. EXPORT OF TIMBER. A bill was introduced by Governor's Message to-day to increase tho export duty on bulk timber. The bill is a simple little measure increasing the duty on round logs, logs squared with axo or saw, and half-logs from is per hundred superficial feet to 5s per hundred superficial feet. The duty on flitches or pieces remains as at present 3s per hundred superficial feet. These are tho maximum duties. The new bill continues the power given to tho Governor by the act oE ISOI to imposo a lesser duty by Order-in-Council. The Premier, in introducing tho bill, said in case there might be any misapprehension and lest ho should be accused of bringing down unimportant bills at this late stage in the session ho wished to say that tho bill was an important one. In 1901 Parliament provided for an oxport duty of 3s per hundred oil kauri logs, but sawmillers in tho colony had found the duty was not sufficient, and there wore now largo orders in the colony to take away kauri logs. This had been represented to the Government, and in the interests of the industry in the colony it was proposed to ■increase the duty. Mr Ilerries said it was a vicious principle to allow tho Governor (o regulate Customs duties. He maintained that that power bo given back to the House. The leader of tho Opposition asked if the representations made to the Government were made by responsible people, who could speak for the sawmilling industry of tho colony. The Hon. C. Mills said the representations were made by reliable peoplo, who knew what they were talking about. Tho alteration would affcct white pine logs as well as kauri logs. Mr Houston said ho would oppose tho bill. Many men who found employment in the timber industry were not able to creet mills for themselves, and if a high duty was imposed they would ho forced to sell to the millers, and submit to any iprico. Mr Mills said aii order was coming forward now for two million feet of logs. If tho logs were allowed to go out of the colony it would bo to tho detriment of those who found employment in tho mills of the colony. Sir William Russell said if the colony commenced a system of Protection there was no saying where they would stop. It might, however, be necessary to impose an export tax to prevent tho' kauri timber giving out. The Minister ought to inform tho House how far we are from the point when it would be practically impossible to procure kauri timber for our own use. It might be a matter for consideration whether the colony should not altogether prevent the exportation of kauri timber. Mr Hogg thought tho Home should seriously consider whether they should allow timber to be exported at all. Mr It. M'lConzio said if tho House wanted to conscrvo the timber it should bo done by making reserves and not by an export duly, which was unfair to those who had invested capital in timber. Mr Mander said lie did not know what was the object, of tho bill. There were certain isolated sections of bush whero it would not pay to erect mills, and whero it was impossible to get tho timber to the mills, and it might be necessary to ship small cargoes of baulk timber away. It would bo a great hardship to small bush-owners to prevent them shipping the timber away when they could not'sell'it to the mills. Tho Government had tried to conserve kauri forests and had failed. Ho boliovod the kauri would give out in less than 20 years, but ho did not see bow it could lie stopped, and. besides, there wero vast areas of other useful timbers in New Zealand which would bo on the market. Tho present duty was a very high one. Mr Masscy strongly urged tho Houso not to agroo to this manner of fixing an export duty. He could understand that many arguments might be used in favour of putting an oxport duty on timber. It might bo necessary to limit tho export bceauso the end of tho kauri forests was in view. Apart from theso arguments, howover, ho hoped tho Houso would insist upon fixing the duty in a proper and constitutional inannoi' and not leave it to the Governor. Tho Premior said the matter was originally left- to tho discretion of tho Governor, bccauso it was represented to him that a good deal depended on tho competition outside as to whether a duty of 3s per hundred would be necessary. The bill was then read a first time.

THE FERTILISER .'BILL. Tho Joint Stock and Agricultural Committee' reported tlio Fertiliser Bill to tho House, to-day. Tlio committee has mode a largo number of amendments in tho bill. Tho clause providing for a tag describing tlio contents being attached to bags cf .manure has been struck out and in its placo has been inserted a clause providing that an invoice must bo sent to the purchaser stating tlio class of fertiliser, tlio statement to bo in accordance with entries in a register of various classes of fertilisers to bo kept by tho Secretary of Agriculture. Tho powers of inspectors to enter premises aro struck out and the polvor limited to purchasing samples. A now clauso has been inserted providing that within 10 days after a purchase the purchaser may havo a sample fallen by an inspector from his purclmßo for tlio purpose of analysis. TRAWL NETS. To-night's Gazette contains a notification that after the Ist of May next tho mesh of evory trawl net shall measure diagonally, when prepared for use, wotted, and strotclieu, not less than the following dimennamely:— In wings and body, sin; in cod end, 4in. Tho penalty for a breach of the regulations is not to lie less than £1 and not more than £20. At the present time thero is no restriction as to the sizo of the meshes of trawl nets. RELIEF TO PASTORAL CROWN TENANTS. It is understood that Messrs Flatman and Hcrdman, accompanied by Mr Tripp, of South Canterbury, will wait on tlio Minister of Lands or tho Premier in regard to a Pastoral Tenants' Relief Bill in connection with the losses of sheep in tho south through tho recent snowstorms. The Hon. Sir Twomoy, who is interesting himself in the matter, has received a letter from tlio Minister of Lands stating that tlio matter has been reported on, and will shortly be ready for tho consideration of the Government. The Minister, however, thinks it best to defer consideration until after shearing, when tho actual losses can bo ascertained. On one station in Canterbury it is stated that 3000 sheen were skinned after tho storms, and that the lambing has been largely a failure.

STATE FIRM INSURANCE BILL. The Premier reported to the House tonight that tlu? conference between representatives of the House and tho Council had failed to agree on tho State Firo Insurance Bill. Ho regretted it, because tho bill was ail important one. He moved that a second conference be asked for, and that the. now managers be Messrs James Allen, M'Nab, and' himself. Tho motion was agreed to.

JOTTINGS. Since tlio bonus tor fish-canning was established in 1885, £12,460 had been granted by way of bonus, £5191 going to Auckland and £6177 to Otago.. The Prcmior contends that the Midland Railway will bo a paying lino. It will, ho says, pay double what some of the other linos aro paying. Half a million of money had boon spent on the line, and it would be a mistake to stop it now. The}' had now almost completed tlio plans and reports of tho expert engineer, and those show that tho cost of the lino through tho Otira. Gorge could be considerably reduced. "I do my best to conciliate members, and get imposed upon."—A remark of the Premier's which crcated much mirth. " On what date does the l'remior intend to issue invitations for the opening of tho Midland railway?" asked Mr Lewis tonight. "At tlio termination of tho next general election after next," piomntly replied the Premier, and lion, members laughed.

Somo 50 members, tho Hon. Mr Twomey informs tug, have signed a requisition asking tho Premier to pass his Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Act Amendment Bill. "The time of tho House has never been wasted as it has been this session," declared Mr Massey. " Who is responsible?" "The leader of the Opposition." smartly interjected tho Premier." " No," said Mr'Mssscy, " it is tile Premier of tho colony, and tho colony knows it." "It seems to me," replied tho Premier, " that the business of tho country can't go on unless I'm here; when I am away you aro like so many school boys."