PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 13288, 15 August 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

[By Telegraph] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Aug. 14. After considerable debate the second reading of the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill (giving the convict Louis Chemis the right to apply to the Court of Appeal for a new trial) was carried by 17 votes to 16. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Capt. Russell gave notice to move, on the motion for the second reading of the Tariff Bill, “ That in the opinion of this House the tariff resolutions, altering the duties of Customs, should be rescinded on the grounds that by them no simplification of the tariff is effected, few existing anomalies are abolished, no appreciable relief is granted to anybody while extra burdens are imposed upon many, and the estimated increase in the revenue, viz., L 10,300, is not commensurate with the general disarrangement of trade which will ensue.” Mr Seddon said that after the notice of motion just given he would be consulting the convenience of members by moving the adjournment of the House till 7.30. The Government had intimated that they would not take the tariff discussion on party lines and members who had not already spoken in the financial debate would therefore be at a disadvantage with an amendment like this hanging over them. He thought that either this amendment should be withdrawn or the House should be adjourned. Captain Russell said he had not attacked anybody by his motion, which was the same as that he had intimated his intention of moving a few days ago, and he did not want to disturb the financial debate. The proper time for his resolution to be. taken was on the second reading of the Tariff Bill. They had already had so many changes in the tariff that they did not know that the Government would not again alter the tariff so completely that his motion would not be necessary. . Mr Ward said Captain Russell wished to get members of the Government party, after having heard their opinions, to do what was done on a previous occasion by the Atkinson party. In view of the statement of the Government that they would not object to reasonable alterations in the tariff the action of Captain Russell could only be to harass the Government. His motive was evidently to give those members of the Government party who had not agreed with the tariff proposals an opportunity of giving the Government a slap in the face, but the Government’s supporters would not be dragged through the mire in that manner. He asserted that the agricultural community by this tariff were receiving relief to the extent of L 17,000. Sir R. Stout thought the course proposed by the Government was a most extraordinary one. After further discussion Mr Seddon, in reply, said the Government would at 7.30 be prepared to say what course they would take. It was well known that the Tariff Bill could not come down for some time yet as the Government had more serious matters to consider. If Captain Russell refused to move his amendment at 7.30 the Government would treat it with the contempt it deserved, and would take their own course afterwards.—The motion was agreed to on the voices, and the House rose at 3.50 p.m. Evening Sitting. The Colonial Treasurer moved that the House go into Committee of Ways and Means. This was to give Captain Russell an opportunity of moving his motion and to prevent those of the Government party who had expressed views opposed to various items of the tariff being placed on a false position. The party was determined that the tariff vote should only be dealt with in committee. He would move that the duty on flannelette shirting, imitation flannels, raised cotton, and soft spun piece goods, except flannel shirting, be 10 per cent, ad valorem as from August Ist, 189 a; that the duty imposed by resolution from 31st July last cease on August 15th and the difference of duty since 31st July be refunded. This would mean that the duty ou flannelettes would be the same as before 31st July and that the duty on flannelette shirtings be removed. They being admitted free the loss of sevenue would be L3OOO, but the self-respect of the Government and Government party was of greater value. The Government would not amend the tariff at the dictation of its opponents but by the direction of their friends (Mr McKenzie: Why could you not bring it down sooner—laughter). Captain Russell s motion amounted to a want or confidence. Captain Russell said it was contrary to practice to debate a tariff amendment and therefore he would not debate this and neither would his friends (laughter). Neither would he bring down the motion of which he had given notice till the time for which he had given notice—when the Government brought down, its bill. As for this making every motion a want of confidence motion it was becoming farcical. Three times in a fortnight had the Premier treated a motion as a want of confidence motion. He reminded him of Cox and Box, when Box, shaping to a small man, said “ Can you fight? 1 and on the small man saying “No,” said “Then come on.” The Premier, with a big party majority following him closely on various questions was always crying to the numerically small Opposition to “Come on. lhe tariff motion of which he had given notice was merely to record the general feeling of dissatisfaction at the tariff proposals. The Premier said that Captain Russell reminded him of the old adage : “ He who fights and runs away, will live, to fight another day.”—Captain Russell : Ohnolt< Will meet you by and bye —laughter). —The Government could not permit such a notice to remain on the Order Paper without loss of self-respect. The Government had the respect and confidence of the country, and those who voted for going into Ways and Means would be voting confidence in the ment of the afternoon was to allow the Govcmnient to bold ft cftucus qx iw si'P’

porters, therefore the business of the country was interrupted, and his prediction had been verified. Those members who

criticised the tariff so freely had meh the caucus and had swallowed it whole. Those members who talked so independently had been rounded up by the Premier, and they would vote for everything they had objected to. Captain Russell had done what he had never seen any other leader of the Opposition do ; he had made Ministers run away from their own tariff which had taken two years to prepare, and on which they had spent Ll7OO on Commissions, and no less than L 377 in printing. Captain Russell had done what all their representative Government supporters had failed to do ; he had saved the working men of th‘e colony from a duty which would have directly affected them to the extent of thousands of pounds. He hoped the Opposition would vote for the Treasurer’s motion, as it was relieving the working men. The Minister of Labour denied that they had run away from Captain Russell. The Government’s change of front was caused by the opinions of all their party and the country at large. At the outset they had said they would take the opinion of their friends. The Government was following the precedent set down by Sir Harry Atkinson in allowing reasonable freedom as to amendments on its tariff. They were prepared to receive reasonable amendments and improvements but they declined to go on with the business of the country with a motion of no confidence over their heads. Why did Captain Russell give notice of this motion before the bill came down.—(Mr T. McKenzie : To force reductions) —It was

absurd to say that; the handful of the Opposition could force reductions.—(Mr Earnshaw : They have done so.)—The Liberal party could do this, but not the Opposition. The Government desired the opinion of its friends for the collective wisdom of the House was gi eater than the wisdom of any one Minister. Dr Newman said the Opposition had at

last secured this reduction, and the Government was already backing down on a number of other items.

On the motion to go into Committee of Supply being put the only voice against was that of Mr Mills (senior Government Whip), who called for a division to ensure the votes being recorded. The only teller who could be procured to act with him was Major Harris (the other Government Whip). The motion was carried by 60 to 5, the only votes against being those of Messrs Willis, W. Kelly, Harris, Mills, and McNab. The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means and the Treasurer moved his resolution. Mr T. Mackenzie moved as an amendment that all flannelettes be free. The proposed distinction only accentuated the difficulties and anomalies of the tariff, and no Customs officer could define the difference proposed. This was an item which the Tariff Commission showed had caused the greatest confusion in New Zealand during the past six or seven years. The Treasurer said that in that night’s Post a leading firm advocated the very thing the Government proposed : they intended to admit shirtings free, but it would be practically impossible to remove all anomalies till there was a thorough revision of the tariff.

Mr Button thought the whole duty should be taken off flannelette.

The Premier asked the House to negative the amendment, and when they were discussing the schedules to the bill they would have an opportunity of reconsidering the matter.

Dr Newman suggested that as flannelette was pure cotton and not flannel at all they should enact that it should not be sold under a name suggesting flannel. Mr Duthie said flannelette was almost wholly used by the poor people ; those who could afford it used 11 innel, and they should abolish the duty on it. Mr G. J. Smith said the duty which it was proposed to revert to had caused great friction throughout the colony. They should make a uniform duty or. abolish it altogether. The Treasurer and Premier said that if the amendment were u ithdrawn opportunity would be given to effect the reduction. Mr Steward said he would have a good deal to say on flannelettes when the proper time came; a great deal could ba-said on both sides.

Mr Crowther Baid the voice of the country would compel both the Tariff Commission and the Government to climb down on flannelettes. The amendment was withdrawn and the motion carried without dissent.

Mr Mills explained that he and Major Harris had called for a division at the request of the Government to test the sincerity of the Opposition. Captain Russell protested against the Whip stating that they had called for a bogus division to call into question the sincerity of any section of the House.

In reply to Messrs Allen and T. McKenzie, who said the concession secured was much larger than L3OOO, Dr Newman stated that Mr Ward had said that the Tariff Commission, of which Mr T. McKenzie was a member, recommended an average of 20 per cent, [and Mr McKenzie said he had voted in the Tariff Commission against the proposed increase. The resolutions were then confirmedMr Mills resumed the Financial Debate. He could not [wholly approve of the proposed treaties, but otherwise hecimmended the Budget. Mr Buchanan said the position was serious as the Customs and railways revenues were steadily falling, Mr Carncross supported a policy of rest. The House rose at 12.20, Mr McNab moving the adjournment of the debate.