HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Wellington City Empowering Bill was icad a third time and passed.

PETONE WATER SUPPLY. The Petone Water Supply Conservation Bill was reported, and" the amendments mado in committee were agreed to. LOCxVL BILLS. The Waitara Harbour District and Empowering Bill passed all stages. The Gore Streets Bill was reported, and the amendments made in committee were agreed to. The bill wa6 then road a third time and passed.

The Taranaki Botanic Garden Act Amend' raent was read a. second time. THE TARIFF BILL. '

The Eon. Mr MILLAR moved the second roading of the Tariff Bill.

Mr MASSEY said he wns not quite satisfied with tlio presont tariff, as the Government liad departed from the practice previously adopted. He had hoped that tho Government would have placed tho whole of tho raw materials required in tlie colony's industries on the free list. Ho had always thought that the colony'e taxation should he based on the lines that all classes slionld pay a fair share, but this had hoen departed from, notably in that of the tax on hoots, whore the heaviest tax was placed on the cheapest boots, ond the tax was reduced as the values increased. Ho deprecated , a tax being , placed on machinery required in industries,, and regretted that the Government had differentiated between machinery- required for industries and machinery for motor care. He thanked the nieiribcre of the House who carried the amendment the provious night to place motor car machinery on the same basis as other machinery. Referring to clause 26, he said its effect was that persons who imported goode through indent agents would be penalised, as "it was intended to add the indent agents' commission to the cost of the article and lovy duty on the total thus arrived at.

Tho Hon. Mr MILLAR said tho principle adopted had been to place as for as possible all raw material on the free list, to remove tfis duty from foodstuffs, and to remove anomalias. He contended that the consecraeneo of dnty on cheap hocte would be to remove shoddy rubbish from the colony's market, and that importers would impart a better article and woorere would got the benefit. Ho maintained that the importation of this shoddy rubbish, was the causo of slioddy being manufactured here. Ho defended tho Government's action in imposing a duty on boilers required for dairying purposes on the ground that it was not purely a dairying implement, boilers being required in almost every industry. One result of the new tariff was that a Sydney manufacturing firm was about to establish new works in Wellington or Auckland that would give employment to 300 hands. He maintained that, as population increased by tin's and similar means, the colony would consume tho whole of the butter and other foodstuffs produced here. The second reading was agreed to, and the Honso went into committee on the bill. In reply to Questions, the PRDIE MINISTER sa-id that New Zealand was giving to England a groat <ieal moro than was given to other countries under the'now tariff. He was satisfied, he .added, that when the tariff was passed. Canada would bo prepared to consider o. reciprocal treat) - . ' At clause 15, which provides that newspaper proprietors- who have entered into a contract for the supply of paper for a period not exceeding three years shall be oxempt from the duty imposed under the echeditlo of tho act, provided that the paper is imported and entered, tor home consumption on or before the lost day of December, 1903. Mr MASSEY eaid that was a piece of class legislation, and he. urged that the clause should be struck out, as small- newspaper proprietors, who purchased paper locally, had to pay the increased! duty. He added that there Avere importers who imported paper for supplying the, smaller nowepapers, vha were not being benefited by the clause. Further, such exemption was not accorded tlio importers of any other class of goods, whero importers liad made contracte.

The Hon. Mr MILLAR explained that, the provisions of the clause were intended to carry out to the fullest extent the provisions of the act of 1903.

Mr AITKEN contended that under the net of 1903 the period of exemption expired at the end of 1906. He urged that tho clause should l>e altered to operato to tho end of 1907 only. Mr JAMES ALLEN urged that the exempt-ion should terrainato at tho tnd of Aiiscust. 1907. ■

The Hon. Mr MILLAR said thero was no doubt that the intention of leoislature was that tho exemption in the 1903 act \yas to cease in 1906, but owinp: to the wording of the clause it applied to three years' supply, consequently any contracts' ihat had been entered into had to be safeguarded. The provisions of the.new clause,"however, provided for a definite time, when this exemption must cease.

Mr OKEY said tho. clause gave undue prefeienoa to tho larger newspapers.. He suggested that, paper for all newspaper proprietors should bo exempted durins; tho period provide*!' under the clause. ■ Eventually the Minister consented to amend the clause to operate until December 31, 1907, and the amendment was agreed to. The House adjourned at 5,30 p.m..

EVENING SITTING,

The House resumed at 7.30. At clause 19, whicli provides that when, in the opinion ot the Collector of Customs, it is necessary to anajyee any article for the purpose of a«sorraining what duty it is liable to pay. fljo foe for analysis shall bo such as I&o Minister of Customs mav direct, and shall be paid by the importer. Mr AITKEtf urged that the cost, or half of the cost, of analysis should to paid by the Customs Department. Mr MILLAR said the clause would not affect, holiest importers, but was intended to operate against, importers who were reasonably .inspected of systematically im--I,'ortinEr articles wrongly described, The clauso wia agreed to unaltered.

At clause 21, which pjovidee that Hie Minister of Customs may classify any medicinal preparation or article' claimed to lie such iindnr any other heading of the tariff, if in hie judgment such preparation can be easily rendered lit for use as a beverage, flavouring essence, toilet preparation, perfumed spirit, or as M article or spirituous ingredient in an article subject to a higher rate of duly tliirn a. medicinal preparation, an amendment was made to bring medicated infants' food within-the clause.

■ The amendment, -was agreed to and the clause was passed.

The Hon. Mr GUINNESS proposed a new clause fo provide for the prohibition of r.rnaments of glass and other Mtielte in imitation of New Zealand greenstone entering, into New Zealand, and on the ovcnß of any such .articles reaching the colonj', they to bo forfeited. Ho pointed out that an article, called "new greenstone," manufactured 'in Germany, was bpuiß largely imported, n,ml <vas competing with nativo greenstone.

Mr MILLAR said Mr Guinness was mistaken regarding tie country of manufacture. This article (new greenstone) was made in Birmingham, and on tlio cards to whioh the new greonstono was attached were inscribed words showing- that it was imitation and no< ilm real article. Ho had no objection to the clause.

Mr IIANAN maintained that new greenstone did compete with tho real artiole, and added that the cards bore the New Zealand emblem (kiwis, etc.) to deceive purchasers into the belief that it was the genuine artiole.

Mr FLATMAN said many people could not afford to purcha6e pemiino greenstone, o.ml this particularly referred to children. On that acc&iint ho hoped the claueo would not bo included.

Mr T. MACKENZIE argued that if tlicy prohibited tlio imitation of sjreenstone tho vnluo of tho real Article would depreciate , . The PRIME MINISTER said ho hoped that Mr Guinness would not. pres3 tho now clause, as if it were carried it should be applied to all imitations and spurious arf.iolea. He thought the matter of dealing with these imitations should be left to tho discretion of the Minister. Mr GUINNESS ssid there had beer petitions presented on the subject, and ho added that greenstone was an industry of Now Zealand and should be protected. Tho Minister had had power to deal with, imitations for four years, but had done nothing.

Mr.LAURENSON, whilst agreeinjr with tho views put forth by Mr Guinness, said he thought it inadvisable to include such n. clau3e in tho Customs Bill. The Minister' had power under oauee 67 of the act of 1902, by order of tho Governor-in-Council, to prohibit the importation of this article, and it would bo bettor if the Minister, who now know tho feelings of the House, adopted such an order.

The. amondme-nt was carried on tho Chairman's easting vote. On a division, that tho clause stand part of tho bill, tho voting was:—Ayes, 31 j noes, 33. The olniisc was struck out.

Mr GUINNESS moved a further clause, that all packing-cases or boxes used for importinß goods or articles upon which duty is payable shall be admitted duty free.

Mr MILLAR said the revenue now received from this eourco was £14,000, and on this account ho opposed tho amendment. The whole matter had been earefnlly gone into. ■ The PRIME MINISTER said that if the duty were taken off packing ; oasos the duty would have to be placed on some other article to make up tho £14,000. Ho asked members what article., it was proposed to substitute for packing-caeos. Mr M'LACHLAN roso to speak, when tho Chairman called on Mr Wilford. Mr M'LACHIiAN interjected: "I was up first. I was up before Sir Joseph Ward." Tho CHAIRMAN again «01od Mr Wilford, aind ordered , Mr M'Lachlan to resumo his; seat, Mr M'LACHLAN said he would bow to tho arbitrary rule, but it was not honest. The CHAIRMAN called on Mr" M'Lachlan to withdraw, but. ho said he would not do so, but would leave, the House. Tho CHAIEMAN called on the Leader of the House, and Sir J. G. WARD saidtho authority of the Chairman must bo maintained.

Mr M'LAUHLAN withdrew the objection able remark.

Mr WILFORD explained that the_troublo arose through Mr M'Laohlan not being ablo to coo him (Mr Wilford) rise, as he was behind Jlr M'Lachlaii. Mr Wilford sajd lio would not oppose the Government's tariff, as the Government had made such a' large reduction in taxation. Mr'M'LACHLAN contended that the Govornment had made a mess of things in taking tho dtrty off sugar and removing the sheen tax. ■ Tlie CHAIRMAN ruled Mr M'Laohlan out of order, , as tlie question of shec'p was not before liio House. Mr M'LAOHIjAN said lip would support tho amendment. ■The PRIME MINISTER «ud they were making ooncesions totalling from £280,000 k> £300,000, and if reductions totalling £14,000 wore carried, os was now proposed, it would be tho duty of tho Government to make tether alterations making up that deficiency. Mr MASSEY said that if the Government was going to' use its majority' to prevent, reductions being made, or any amendment made in the bill, the sooner Parliament went home and loft tlio Government to manage the affairs of tho.colony the better for all concerned. The PRIME MINISTER said the Govammont know ite responsibilities, and acosptod them. The Government, and not (ho Leader of the Opposition, was responsible for tho tariff ami the finances of tho colony. Supposing this proposal and other reductions were carried, it would be the duty of the- Government to. withdraw tho tariff. If the Government found that it was boinp carried into an unsafe position it would not accept the position, even if that position wore brought about by its frionde. The proposed _ reduction would not benefit the consumer in any way. Tho second reaclini of the proposed new clause was negatived by 51 votes to 14. The committee then proceeded to consider Schedule A of tho bill. The first item was food and articles for human consumption. Mr AITKEN moved that the duty on fish (potted and preserved) bo reduced from 2d to l£d per ib. The motion was negatived by 45 votes to 22.

. Progress was reported and tlie Houseadjourned at midnight,