THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 19

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.

In the Legislative Council this afternoon tho s e cond reading of the Auctioneers Act Amendment Bill was refused by 16 to 9. The Wilson Land Grant Bill waa passed. The measure deals with a grant of land made to Wilson when a youth after his parents had been killed by the Taranaki Maoris. The Council adjourned until Wednesday next, having no work to do. THE FENCING BILL. The Waste Lands Committee recommended that the Fencing Bill be allowed to proceed aa amended. AUCTIONEERS." The Hon. Mr WALKER moved the second reading of the Auctioneers' Act Amendment Bill, which provides that all fees shall be paid into the fund of any local authority within which the auctioneer resides, and in the event of there being no local body where such auctioneer resides, the fee 3 shall be paid to the consolidated fund. The Hon. Mr STEWART opposed the bill because he considered auctioneers should take out their licenses in the places in which they carried on business and not in the suburbs in which they merely reside. He moved that the bill be read a seoond time that day three months. The Hons. Shrimski, J. A. Bonar, and Kelly supported the amendment, whilst the bill was; supported by the Hoot. Rigg, Ormond, and Bull. The amendment was lost by 16 to 9. In the House of Representative to - day th'o Native Land Laws Act Amendment Bil), having been formally i-ead a second time, the Customs and Excise Duties Bill was at once proceeded with in Committee. It seems proTHE TARIFF. The Customs and Excise Duties Bill wai committtd. Clause 5, d u ty o n patent or proprietwrf

medicines. — Mr Duthie called attention to the heavy duties imposed on these articles. Ho agreed with ths Treasurer that some of them wei« Vf rj infrric r, but others were not. — The Hofl. Mr Ward said many of those medioinc3 were inferior, aiid stvt-ral were rubbit-h. At present all the money went out of thecolmy for those medicines, and he had thought; io necessary to put 40 per cent, on inferior &t-liules of tbia kiud.— Agreed to. CUu«e S, decif ion of disputes as to exemption of nhiftings to be fiual on the p*rt of commisnioner, elicited considertkb'c dfscuagioo Mr G. J. Smith thought that the commiisioner should not ln-ve full power in this matter. —Mr Button urged that the clause be postponed till the schedule waa passed, as considerable alterations would probably be made in the schedule. — The Hon. Mr Waud eventually moved that tho clause be postponed, and it was agreed to. Clause 7, annual fte of £2 payable b/ licecsed agents. — Mr G. J. Slum faid £2 was too heavy for a license, and he suggested £i. — Tbe Hon. Mr Wabd said it was in the interest* of importers and of those hiving business with the oustoiEß. He would, however, take the decision of the Committee on the voices. — Mr Dtniriß eaid these agents had already to sign a bond to customers fcr good behaviour, and he thooght it a great hardship for people of Bniall mn<ns to be compelled lo p*y a license fee of £2.— Mr Buchanan considered this an attempt to »dd to the income of (he Customs department in a very undesirable way. — The Hon. Mr Wakd said this was not a matter of income »t ail, but it waa meant to erwure proper administration of the Customs department. It ■w»» in the interests of honest importers that Ibose ogonte should be appointed, and that they sfcould be honest men.— sfr (t. W. Russell said there was ro«; the slightest necessity to impo#o a fee of £2 to m»ke agents honest whan they had already by the act to give ft fcond for £20 and sureties.— Mr Pibani said Ihia was only another ii»ju»tice which the Government) perpetrated on 6mall men in favour of torge men.— The Hon. Mr Ward eventually said he should accept a reduction to £I.— The claoxe, after further debate, wae amend* d by making the fee £1 — Mr Button asked whether thiy should uot make it one fee instead of an aonukl one.— The Hon. Mr Ward could not &c<wpk that propt sal.— Mr Ddtiiih morcd that the fee sh( u!d not be an annual one. — Lost by 42 to 15, and the clause passed at £1 by 41 (o 14. Clause 9, provision as to manufacture of articles of which spirit ia the necessary ingredient.—Mr Button moved tlmt the duty on peif-.imed spirits be reduce.l to 10s tor liquid gallon insteid of 20,t.— Mr T. Mackknzib swd the Tariff Commission fouud that the duty ■was absolutely nec.ssary, aud ho hoped it would be retained.— The Hon. Mr Wahd said this article was undeniably a luxuiy. The r«uit of Ihe experience of the department showed that kjria particular class of spirit required con»iderabl« oversight and a great deal of watching, »nd a duty of 20a w»8 justifiable.— The Hon. filr Steward said be th«;ughl the duty put on by the Treasurer was justified.— The Hou. Mr Ward said he proposed that duty on this article eheuld be imposed at the end of February. His reason for thia was thtvfc people engaged in this particular industry had already in etock a large amount of ingredients. He had j no wi»h to injure anyone in trade, and it was not only right but essential that a sufficient period should be allowed to elapse to enable existing stocks to be put out. — Mr Crowtheii contended that the duty of 20s per gallon would crush this industry out altogether. — After a lengthy discussion Mr Button's amendment was lost by 31 to 20, and 20s retained.— Mr Button moved—" That duty on toilet preparations which are subject to 16s the liquid gallon on importation be reduced from 12« the liquid gallon to 6s."— Loafc by 32 to 24.— Mr Button moved— "That 4a the liquid gallon instead of 6s be the duty en toilet preparations subject to 25 per ceut. duty on importation." Lost on the voices — Mr Buvton moved to reduce the duty on culinary and flavouring essences from 12s the gallon to 6s.— Lest by 30 to 29. 3ftr Boiton moved that the duty be 6d per lb instead of 9d ou all such pbarmacopcaia tinctured essences, extracts, and mvd<cal spirits as contain more than 50 per cenb. of proof spirits. — Mr CROWTHEn r.sented this industry in Auckland being described, as it was by Mr Earnshaw, aa a twopenny-half pgnuy concern, and said that £20.000 was invested in it. He strongly supported Mr Buttou's amendment. — After a lengthy debute the amendment was lo: t on the voicpa — Mr Button moved that 3d per lb instead of 4£d be the duty on tinctures that contain l«6s than 50 per cent, of proof spirit. — Jtyes, 31 ; Noes, 31.— The Chairman voted with the Noes, and i£d was struck out.— The Hou. Mr Wabd said after the vote just given he should propose that the duty on tbe former item be reduced to 6d, as those articles contained more than 50 per cent, of proof spirit. — After further discussion, Mr Ward suggested that 4d be the duly on tinctures of lers than 50 per cent, of spirit, and in that caee thoso over 50 p« cent, could remain at 9d as already passed by the Committee — " Three^eticT " was Inst-rted aa the duty instead of 4£d by 32 to 29. fTbe Hon. Mr Wahd moved that the duty on perfumed spirits and culinary and flwvouriug efssricea frhall not come ; nto force till li-t Febraary 1896. — Mr G. W. Russell moved an amendment that it be the Ist January instead of February. — Mr Ward's motion was carried, and the clanse agreed to. Clause 14, operation of the act. — Mr Earnbhaw a<-ktd how tbe Ti easurer proposed to deftl with thote people who had cleared tea out of bond. — The Hon. Mr Wahd said the usual course would bo followed. He had already told the House that no refund in the duties already paid would be made, and no one who had paid duty at the reduced rates would be afckf d to refund. — The clause panted. Mr G. W. Russell moved a new clause, that no pei6on shall import into the colony prisonmade goods. — The Hon. Mr Ward aaid the duty ot 20 per cent. &d valorem above the ordinary duiy was proposed by the Government. Tbe difficulty iv the matter, he pointed out, ' was to ascertain when goods were prison-made. If tbe goods were made prohibitory he thought greater efforts would be made to deceive the authorise* than if the du'y proposed by the Government were adopted. He had no strong objection, however, to Mr Ros'ell's clause.— After a lengthened debate, Mr G. W. Russell eaid he should divide the House on hie motion in order to show the real Liberalism of tho Government, and whether they were actuated ?-y consideration for the labouring classes. — filr Rueeeli'is cause was lost by 40 to 21. The schtdults weie tLen proceeded with. Mr Allen n ovtd to strike out " cbillits,"' 20 per cent., as they Wriv not brought down in the resolutions. — Tbo Hon. Mr Ward :ig-f cd, snd they were struck out of the schedule. — Mr Hogg moved that caraway steds, gelatine, isingl&Bf, liquorice, cayenne pepper, fish paste, 20 per cent, ad valorem, be struck out. — Mr Eaekshaw pointed out that Mr Hogg should have moved to put those items on the free list, which wae evidently what the hon. gentleman wanted to do.— Mr Hooa said that was his intention. He waa surprised that 6 per cent, had been added to these items.— The Hon. Mr

Ward said the Tariff Commission rccogiis-d the necessity of baviug as few rales 'as possible and they were trying to act with soire uoiforrnity in the tariff. Mr Hi'gg could not move now lo put those articles on the free list. — Mr lIoGa said 15 per cent, waa sufficimt duty for thesa articles, and he objected to 20 per cent. bii"g charged. — Mr U. M'Kbnzie moved that pr< gLvts be reported. — Lost on the voices. — Mr Hogg's motion was lost by 50 to 9. — Mr Eahnshaw moved that these articles bo 15 per cent., as they stood before. — Mr Joyce (acting-chairman) said that the Committee had decided by its vote that these articlei should remain at 20 per cent , but on the representation of several members, who submitted that the question of a reduction of the duty hud uot been dealt with, he allowed the quesoioa to ha put. — Mr Earnshaw's motion was lost by 42 to 16, and 20 per c;nt retained. Mr G. W. RuoSkll raised a point of order with respect to the item chocolate conftctiontry, ajid conleuded that the items on the schedule were uot identical with the resolutions pass-ed in Comruitteo of Ways and Mean?.— The Hon. Mr Mitchki.so* moved that the Shaker's ruling be obtained on the poiufc whether tho schedule must be the same as the resolutions. — The Hou. Mr Skudon agreed to that course, »nd it was carried. — The Spfakbr said that when the resolutions had heeu reported from the Oouiniitfce of Ways aud Means au order was made that a bill be prepaid to give tffect to those resolutions. If anything appeared in the bill that waa no 1 ", in the resolution?, it would bo the duty of the Chairman to pass over such ifecma in order to refer them back to the (<ommittee of Ways and Means. Hia opinion wua that th.j sch, dule of the bill should correspond with the resolutions parsed by the Committee, but in order to s*Vd time that night any itetrut iv the schedule that were uot rtported from Committee should bo passed over ami referred b-ick to the Committee of Ways and Moans to be dealt with as they thought proper. — The Committee then resumed. Mr R. M'Kenzie moved that the Hon. Me Stewaid take the chair in Committee — Mr Joyce ruled that he could uot put that motioD. — Mr R. M'KknziE again rose and moved the same motion, upon which Mr Joyce said he should h*ve to report him for disorderly conduct if he did not obuy the luliog of the Chaiiman — The Hon. Mr Mitchelson suggested tb«y bhould ! aojouru and me<jt t^-mortow morniug. &ir Piuani was surprised at r»u old member like Mr Mitchelson moving such a. motion, and »«id the Parliament or. No* Z«.U«nd should not adjourn its buMiieau tor ona m^mb^r. If that were so they had better prorogue alogtthtr. — After iurfcher discutsiou, ttse Hou. Mr Si-ouo.v quoted the Standing Order which provided that in case of any number who was guilty of pfrsisfcut obati'ucfckn or di-ordorly conduct by refusing to recognifie the authority of thr Ch»ir, the (Speaker m \y put the question to the House as to whethorsucu memter should be su -penned. He s&id he would leave the matter with the Chairman.— Mr R. M'Kenzie then withdrew his opposition. Mr T. Mackbnzib moved to strike off the duty of Id per Ibfrom freeh fruit, apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, medlars, apricots, quinces, tomatoes. — Me^sts Buchanan aud Willis supported the amendmeut. — Mr Lang oppohed it, and thought a small duf-y ou fruit was more appropriate than a duty*- on boot^, shoes, and articled of this kiud.— The Hon. Mr Sbddon ho^td they were not going to have a debate on this amendment, as every member's mind was already made up on it. He pointed out that it was only an extra duty of a halfpenny. — Captain Russell thought that this was Protection of tua highest clmaetn 1 , and Protection on the very article that should be free. He conteuded that this tax really meant a duty of 100 per ceut. on imported fruit. If thoy in New Zealand were so lazy that they could not compote with Tasmania, they should not pretend to have any energy at all. — A lengthy discussion followed, several members speaking lor and ugiinst the amendment, and going at length into the whole question of fruitgrowing in the colony. — Mr T- Mackenzie's [ amendment was eventually put to strika out Id with the view of imeitmg id per lb.— The I amendment was lost by 30 to 24. i Mr Allbn moved to omit currants from the duty of id per pound.— Lost by 36 to 19. Mr Tjios. Mackenzie moved to omit raspberrieß from the duty of £d per pound. He said he did bo because local manufacturers could not got Bufiicienfc supplies of this fruit, iv New Zealand —Mr Graham at»id this was all nocsenfe. In Ntisou, for instance, raspberries grew in profusion.— Captain Rt)9SKLL&aid there was no need to protect raspberries ; they wou'd grow in any quantities in any part of New Zealand. The amendment was lost by 29 to 25. Progress was then reported, and the House xusa at 2 20 a.m.