PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 126, 17 September 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Thursday. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. The Public Petitions Committe could not recommend the grantiug c i the prayer of Catholics, making i compulsory for Education Boards t inspect their schools, considering th examination of teachers necessary t< success, and that if it was to be im perative on Boards to inspect, mana gers of schools should not have th option of saying whether or not the; would have their schools examined With respect to granting Catholi> schools financial aid, they had no re commendatiou to make. After several of the members ha< spoken the debate was adjourned. MAJOR BROWN'S PETITION. The petitiou of Major Charles Brown of Taranaki, who was struck of the Commission of the Peace fo irregularities in native work, was re ferred to the Government for considera tion.. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Servants Registry Offices Bil and Dunedin Loans Consolidation Bil passed their final stages. The Industrial Conciliation Arbitra tion Act Amendment Bill was read i second time. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. . Wellington, Thursday. mining ACT. Mr Cadman moved the second reading of the Mining Act Amendment Bill. He expressed the opinion that, for its area, New Zealand formed one of the richest quartz reefing districts in the world, and it only required developing to make it still richer. Plenty outside capital could be obtained for the purpose, and it was proposed, under the Bill to give outside capitalists some encouragement to invest their money in New Zealand goldfields. Larger areas would be allowed for prospecting, in order to meet the views of capitalists, and this would lead to the investment of English money in prospecting the colony. The second reading was carried by 49 to 14. The Reprint of Statutes Bill, Poisons Importation and Carriage Bill were passed through Committee without material amendment, and subsequently read a third time and passed. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act Amendment Bill was passed through Committee and its final stages. NEW TARIFF PROPOSALS. In Committee of Ways and Means, the Colonial Treasurer moved : That in lieu of the duties of Customs imposed by the Customs and Excise Duties Act, 1888, or by a resolution of this House passed on the 30th day of July, 1895; on the under-mentioned articles, the following duties shall, on and after the 14th day of September, 1895, be charged thereon : Fruits, fresh, namely:—Apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, medlars, apricots, quinces, tomatoes, Id the lb ; oranges, guavas, rjassion-fruit, £d the lb ; bananas, pineapples, £d the lb. Tea (whether in bulk or packed ready for retail sale), 3d the lb. Rice and rice flour, 6s the cwt. Tinctures and medicinal spirits: Duty imposed by resolution of the 30th July, 1895, to come into operation from and after the 14th day of September, 1895. Photographic chemicals including glacial acetic acid, 20 per cent ad valorem. Eucalyptus oil, in bulk or bottle, 20 per cent ad valorem. Patent medicines, 20 per cent ad valorem. Proprietary medicines or medicaments—(l) Bearing the name of the proprietor on label or package; (2) bearing a prefixed name in the possessive case ; (3) not otherwise enumerated, prepared by any occult secret or art, 40 per cent ad valorem. Apparel, made by British or foreign dress, mantle, or jacket-makers, to the order of residents in the colony, 40 per cent. Ribbon and crape, all kinds, 25 per cent. Cotton-piece goods, namely : Velveteens and plushes, all kinds; sateens, linenettes, crepon3, crimps, zephyrs, ginghams, turkey twills, printed cottons, piques, vestings, quiltings and marcellas, nets, curtains, 20 per cent. Boots, shoes and slippers, n.0.e., the invoice value of which does not exceed 5s per pair, 2s the pair and 25 per cent ad valorem. Leather manufacture?, n.0.e., 20 per cent ad valorem.

Saddlery and harness, whips and whipthongs, 20 per cent ad valorem. Machinery, electric, and appliances, 10 per cent ad valorem. Fencing wire, plain or barbed, Is the cwt. Oil, kerosene, 6d the gallon. Oil, linseed, Is 6d the gallon. Wax matches, " plain vestas," in cardboard boxes, containing 100 matches, Is 2d the gross of boxes. "Pocket ve3tas," in tin or other boxes containing under 100 matches, Is 9d the gross of boxes. " Sportsman's," " ovals," and " No. 4 tin vestas," in boxe3 containing not more than 200 matche?, 5s the gross of boxes. Other kinds, for every 100 matches or fraction thereof contained iu one box, 2s 6d the gross of boxes* Resolved, That the duties of Customs now charged on the undermentioned articles shall cease, and determine : Shirtings, colored cotton, in the piece. Shirtings, union, the invoice value of which does not exceed Gd the yard. Forfar, dowlas, and flax sheeting, when cut up under supervision of an officer of Customs in sizes not exceeding 47in by 86in for mak'.ug floi.r bngu.'

Mr Ward said the total estimated increases under the new proposals amounted to £84,G00, whilst the total estimated decreases were £91,900, leaving an estimated loss of £7,300, as against an increase of £10,300, under the first proposals. A reduction from sixpence to threepence on tea me.iut a loss in revenue of £51,000, but that would be made up by increases in other duties. He then moved the resolutions. Captniu Russell considered the present Tariff was more ridiculous than the previous one. No relief whatever was granted to the taxpayer, and New Zealand was now the most heavily taxed country in all the Australian colonies. Mr Seddon said the silver lining was apparent in the cloud, aud Government would take their cbanco of making up the loss of revenue caused by reductions in the present tariff. Sir Robert Stout regarded tea as a luxury, and objected to duty on it being reduced. A very long debate ensued. Shortly after midnight Sir Robert Stout moved to remit a duty of one penny on Australian fruit, but this was lost by 33 to 14. Sir Robert Stout then moved to remit duty on Island fruit. Mr Seddon strongly protested against this interference with the formal resolutions, and long discussion ensued. Eventually Sir R. Stout's amendment was lost by 30 to 18, aud the resolutions were put through all stages without alteration. The Customs Duties and Excise Duty Bill, to give effect to the resolutions introduced, was read for the first time at 4 a.m.