PROJECTED LEGISLATION

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 90, 4 July 1930, Page 5

PROJECTED LEGISLATION

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT. AUCKLAND CUSTOMS REFUSAL. WELLINGTON, July 3. When the House of Representatives met to-day, Mr C. H. Clinkard gave notice of intention to introduce the Rotorua Empowering Bill. Tho Hon. P. A. do la Pcrrclle gave notice of intention to introduce the Births and Deaths Amendment B’ll.

Replying to Mr Downie Stewar*, who in conjunction with Messrs An soil and Munru raised the question of accepting payment of duty on gooes for Dunedin which arrived at Auck land, Mr Forbes replied that thee wore two questions involved, viz.: (i ; As to the time at which the goods could be cleared in anticipation of alterations in the tariff; (2) As to the incidence of any new duties which might bo imposed. In the (irst place all that had been done so far was to exercise the discretion granted by Parliament under the Customs Act, 1913, by refusing to accept entries until goods arrived at their port of dis charge. As to the other point, he stated that the discretion was preserved in the Act. It was for Parliament to deal with the mattei of altered duties. In his opinion it was the duty of the Customs Department to so exercise the discretion granted to it by the law that Parliament was not prejudiced in dealing with the matter. So far as ho was aware no scheme had yet been devised which would satisfactorily meet all the complicated situations that might arise at a time of change of tariff. The decision which had been arrived at with regard to the clearance of goods had the great advantage that it placed, as far as possible, oil importers at the same centre on a similar footing. In the circumstances, ho regretted that he cuold not see his way to accede to the request of the Otago Importers’ and Shippers’ Association that the goods should lie allowed to lie cleared at the customs at any port in New Zealand as soon as the import ing ship arrived at her first port of call in the Dominion. Replying to Mr W. F. Barnard, die Hon. do la Pcrrello said there had been a growing desire to amend the present system of election of harbour boards and similar bodies, because in town areas all the residents over 21 years of ago had a vote, whereas in the country only ratepayers could vote. The matter was still open for discussion, but it was quite evident that there would have to bo some alteration. The debate on the Addrcss-in-Reply was resumed by the Hon. ,T. G. Coates, who said he trusted that the GovernorGeneral’s term in Now Zealand would ho pleasant, and extended a welcome to Lord and Ladl Bledisloe. Ho also expressed regret at the illness of Sir Joseph Ward and hoped for his early recovery.