PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 127, 20 September 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Tuesday. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for three weeks was granted t > '•.;•' Hutchison ; for one week to Mr Carn:.os9 on account of illness; and for one week to Mr O'Regan because of family bereavement. WAGES ATTACHMENT. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Wages Attachment Abolition Bill were agreed to by 37 to 24. QUESTIONS. In reply to Captain Russell, the Hon Mr. Seddon said he would state to-morrow or next day what Bills the Government intended to drop. As to vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench, it was the intention of the Government to get a return showing the business done by the Supreme Court in the various centres, after which the} would decide whether or not a more even distribution of the work would not obviate the necessity of appointing another Judge. THE TAFJFF. The Hon Mr Seddon moved that the House go into Committee of Ways and Means, in order to strike out from the amended tariff the duty J on Island fruit. He said a cargo of fruit had arrived in Auckland, and as the consignees were unable to pay the duty, the fruit would be spoiled, and the loss thrown "on the consignors. The motion was agreed to. In Committee, Mr Ward moved that the items : oranges, passion fruit, pine apples, bananas, and cocoanuts, be struck out of the schedule. He also stated that he had proposed to make several other alterations in the schedule of the Tariff Bill, and he read out a list of articles he intended to alter. After considerable discussion, Mr Seddon promised to bring down the Tariff Bill next day, with the amended schedule, and proceed right through with the Bill till it was finished. An amendment by Mr Earnshaw, to strike out the other fruit mentioned in the schedule, was ruled out of order. Iu the Committee of Ways and Means on the Tariff resolutions, Mr Guinness being in the chair, Mr G. W. Russell raised- a point of order as to whether Mr Guinness, being in the position of Acting-Speaker in the absence of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, could also properly occupy the position of Chairman of Committees. After a short discussion, Mr Guinness ruled that he was properly acting as Chairman of Committees. THE TARIFF. Without further discussion, Mr Ward's motion to strike out the duty on Island fruit, was carried on the voices.

Mr Earnshaw then moved that the duty on other fruits, mentioned in the schedule, be removed. This was lost by 42 to 13. Mr Ward moved to reduce the duty on linseed oil to Is per gallon. Mr Earnshaw moved to reduce the item to 6d. Mr Ward said this was a fairly debateable item, but he considered the proper place to debate it was when the Tariff Bill was before the House. He should, therefore, ask the House to affirm the resolutions to-night, and they could discuss the various items, when the Bill itself was in Committee. After a short discussion, Mr Earnshaw's amendment was carried by 33 to 23, and the duty was fixed at sixpence. Mr Ward moved that the duty on tea be fivepence per lb until December 31st, 1895, and thereafter at fourpence per lb. Dr Newman moved an amendment, that the duty be threepence per lb, as adopted on Friday night withoat any reservation. Mr Ward opposed the amendment, and said that after the last vote given by the House he should have to consider in what other direction the revetme could be made up. Mr Seddon said it was necessary to keep up a strong finance, and as the duty had been taken off Island fruit, it had to be put on something else. After a short debate, Mr Ward's resolution was carried by 37 to 20. Mr Ward then moved the new duty on boots, shoes, and slippers. Mr Thomas McKenzie moved an amendment, that instead of 7i per cent ad valorem, and a fixed duty of 2s per par.' on men's boots and shoes the duty be 25 per cent ad valorem, and the fixed duty struck out. After a short discussion, the amendment was carried by 31 to 22. In all the remaining items under this heading, 7A- per cent ad valorem and the fixed duty were both struck out, and twenty-five per cent ad valorem substituted. The resolutions as amended were then reported to the House. On the motion that they be adopted, Mr Ward said that although some important alterations had been made in Committee, he looked at the matter from a broad standard, and was not dissatisfied with the necessary adjustment, as the result of these alterations would, he thought, be very slight indeed, and he would be able, on the second reading of the Tariff Bill, to furnish the House with detailed information. He recognised the difficulty of getting a Tariff Bill through the House, and he hoped it would be the last he would have to put through. Mr Seddon concurred in what his colleague had stated. Captain Russell said that in his experience there had never been such a hash in passing the Tariff through the House as he witnessed on this occasion.