PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 1 October 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Thursday. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Census Act Amendment Bill and Unclassified Societies’ Registration Bill were read a first time. The Fencing Bill was further considered in Committee, but no material amendments were made. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. CUSTOMS TARIFF. In Committee on the Customs Bill photographs of personal friends in letters or packets were admitted free. Several minor alterations were made in paper and metal classes. Fencing wire was finally placed on the free list by 33 to 22. In the item, dairying machinery, Mr Millar moved to strike cut engines and boilers specially imported for, and to be used in, a dairy. This led to a long discussion on the general question of the taxation of machinery.

Mr Seddon said he would like to see all machinery placed on the same footing. Mr Ward suggested a tax of five per cent on all machinery. This would mean an increase of £6OOO, aini would make up for some of the reductions.

Several members urged that machinery used in dairying and mining industries should be exempt from the proposed tax. Mr Seddon said if this tax were not granted, there would cither be a deficit or the Government would only spend the money that came in. Captain Russell protested strongly 'against the proposed tax as being likely to injure every manufacture in the colony.

Mr Ward moved to strike out all the items enumerated under the heading of “ Machinery for agricultural purposes.” After further discussion Mr Ward’s motion was carried by 32 to 21. Machinery for flour mills, &c., and for mining purposes and other kinds of machinery mentioned in the schedule, were also struck out in conformity with the previous resolution. No alteration of much consequence was made in the remaining clauses. The Bill, on being reported, was recommitted. A new clause was added providing that no refund shall be made.

The House went into Committee of Ways and Means, when a series of resolutions imposing duties of five per cent on machinery were brought down. In reply to Mr Carncross, Mr Ward said he had exempted certain classes of machinery,.in consequence of which the tax would yield only about £4500 instead of £6OOO, as stated previously. Paper and ruling and cutting'guillotine machines were included in the five per cent duty. Mutton birds struck out of the free list, and charged a duty of 20 per cent. Mowing machines and extra parts for reapers and binders, mould boards, plough shares, and plough rests were added to the free list. All machinery for agricultural purposes, not otherwise enumerated, was placed uuder the five per cent duty. The resolutions, as amended, were then reported to the House, and referred to the Committee on the Customs Bill.

Mr Ward moved that the Customs and Excise Duties Bill be re-com-mitted for the purpose of re-consider-ing certain schedules and duties of five per cent on machinery. In reply to Mr J. W. Kelly, Mr Ward stated the Government had no intention of again bringing up the question of increased duty on packet tea for consideration.

A motion by Mr G. J. Smith that the Bill be also re-committed for the purpose of striking out Turkey twills from a duty of 20 per cent, was lost by 34 to 26. The Colonial Treasurer moved the third reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. The speakers were Captain Russell, Messrs Seddon, T. McKenzie, Buchanan, Morrison, Mills, Duthie, O’Regan, and G. W. Russell. Mr Ward did not exercise the right of reply, and the third reading was carried by 28 to 8, and the Bill passed. THE LIQUOR BILL. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. On the motion being put that Sir R. Stout’s new clause to bring hotels under the Shop and Shop Assistants Act, 1894 (which had previously been read a second time) be added to the Bill, the Premier appealed to the Committee to reject it, on the ground that its insertion would jeopardise the safe passage of the Bill in another place. The clause was lost by 32 to 16. Mr G. J. Smith moved a new clause to provide that every general election day shall be deemed to be a Sunday within the meaning of the Licensing Act.

This was lost by 29 to 24. Mr Seddon moved a new clause to provide that every day on which the election of Licensing Committees and the election for local and national poll takes place shall be a public holiday. After some discussion, Mr Seddon agreed to alter his motion, making the day a half-holiday. This was carried on the voices, and licensing election day was deemed to bo a holiday after mid-day. Mr Seddon then moved that licensing election day shall be deemed to be a Sunday from mid-day to 7 p.m. This was carried by 40 to 11.

The clause was rejected by 25 to 14. Mr Bnick moved a new clause, rendering any person found on licensed premises during prohibited hours liable to a penalty, unless his presence is not in contravention of the Act.

Several members objected to the

clause as being of too drastic a character. Mr Buick said the Commisioncr of Police in his report of 1892, mention- d that some legislation such as this was required. Mr Seddou recognised that something should be done in this matter, and it was provided for in the Bill. It should be seen whether this was satisfactory before any drastic provision was inserted. In Committee on the Alcoholic Liquor Bill, Mr Buick’s new clause, rendering any person found on licensed premises during prohibited hours liable to a penalty unless his presence is not in contravention of the Act, was negatived by 28 to 18. Mr Buddo moved a new clause to the effect that a licensee shall have only one bar on his licensed premises. This was lost by 81 to 25. The Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to.

Mr Seddon moved to recommit clause 2, to decide whether or not the local option poll should be taken on the same day as the general election. This was carried by 31 to 25, and the Bill recommitted and altered in the direction of fixing the licensing and Parliamentary elections for the same day.

The Bill was then finally reported. On the motion for the third reading, a short debate took place, members of the Temperance Party expressing the opinion that the Bill was an improvement on previous liquor laws, and congratulating the Premier on the way in which he had handled a difficult subject. The third reading was carried by 42 to 2, and the Bill passed.