Parliamentary. TUESDAY, August 12.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1660, 15 August 1873, Page 3

Parliamentary. TUESDAY, August 12.

Mr. Cixbtis presented a petition from Nelson bear* ing 1100 signatures against the new tariff.

The Provincial Loans Empowering Bill was read a first time.

Mr. Vogel moved the second reading of the Tariff Bill. He said there was a misconceptiou throughout the country regarding the new tariff. The Government would ask the House to sanction a uniform ad valorem tariff of 10 per cent., and pass the Bill through all its stages. But the Government proposed to exempt certain articles such as lead, copper, brass, iron in pigs and bars, sheet iron, and writing paper not less than demy size. Mr. Rolleston said the ad valorem system would encourage fraud. Mr. Stafford s*id the ad valorem system would encourage tha importation of inferior goods. That local industries should be fostered, and that certain agricultural implements should be admitted free. Mr. Reynolds said the mercantile community were mistaken regarding the effect of the new tariff; that consumers would prevent the importations of inferior goods. The new tariff was expected to produce £10,000 to £20,000 additional revenue. Mr. Peabob suggested that time should be allowed for the consideration of the new tariff. Mr. Hunter said the. best plan would be to place the tariff on a few simple articles, and admit others free. Mr. Shepherd (Otago) said the objections were from traders, not from consumers. Mr. Fitzherbert spoke &)t~ four hours. He characterised the Financial Statement as chaotic, and a proof that the Government had no mind of its own. Credit was taken where none was due. The making a loan' of four per cent, was really an expensive operation tp the Colony. ThesystemofputtingColonialloans on the Australian market he condemned as damaging to the credit of the Colony in England. The Statement was a reversal ot' the policy of 1871, but had no sincerity in it. The proposals for the Provinces to borrow were fenoed with such restrictions that they could not do so except at ruinous rates. Regarding public works the Colony received little for the money spent, and the proposal pould be summed up as " grab—all." The land provisions for the Provinces gi*ing double the amount of land as security for railways was alarming, and tha result would be that the land would be looked up in Government's hands and not settler). This remarkable Statement contained only one cold paragraph on immigration. The Government failed in the work of settlement. If carried oui, their proposals might make a trunk railway, but no roads, bridges, or local works, and, consequently, no settlement, and without this the Colony would be dead. Mr. Vogel briefly replied. In reply to Mr. Richmond, Mr. Reynolds promised to lay on the table a copy of the report from the Marine Board in reference to the lighthouses of the Colony. WEDNESDAY, August 13.

In reply to Mr. Tairoa, Mr. M'Lban said that a speoial Act would be necessary to obtain a reversal of the attainder for {treason by Natives involving a forfeiture of land.

A return of allowances paid to the Governor annually for' forage was laid before the House. In 1869, in was £182 IOs; in the years] 1870-71-72 and 73, it was £300 for each year. The reception of the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1869, cost £9000; in 1870, it was £600.

Mr. Vogel announced thsf the Government would withdraw the Electoral Bills next session, and bring in others abolishing miners' rights qualification, substituting manhood suffrage, with registration and education qualification. The House agreed to go into Committee to pass the Tariff Bill iv one formal stage. In reply to Mr. Pearce, Mr. Vogel said that though the Government might consider jhe proposals'to reduce the duty on some artioles to five per cent., yet they thought the duty should be uniform. Messrs. Murray, Gillies, M'Gillivray, Johnston, Reader Wood, and Mr. Rollbbton opposed the Bill, the latter saying it would press heavily on the consumer. Messrs Cuthbbrtson and Hunter supported the Bill. Mr. Shefhard (Nelson) said the new tariff was not j necesswy; he and Mr. Parser (Nelson) desired more information before they could support it. Mr. ' : Stafford said the Government were not working | fairly. He would divide the House in favor of a reduction on certain articles. Mr. Brandon advo- i oated a reduction of the new tariff. Mr. Vooel accused the Opposition of ignorance .regarding the results of the new tariff. Consumers, especially the working-man, were well able to pay the new duties. The warehouse-men were, active, and not unselfish. Figures showed that the new. tariff would yield an increase of £90,000. It was not designed to increase to revenue. Government would press the Bill. THURSDAY, August 14. In the House to-day, there was a long discussion in Committee on the Customs Tariff Bill. The Speaker (Sir F. D. Bell) spoke at length, advocating the ad valorem system. He criticised the Budget, and said that last session £121,000 was .charged to the loan account for capitalization of interest, instead of being provided for out of the current revenue. Mr. Vogel said the principle was right. Anincometax was objectionable, as it would bear heavily on conscientious, people. A property tax would prevent improvement;* and hinder settlement. • The liabilities of the Colony were not heavy ; they could be doubled and trebled without causing any serious mischief. Mr. Reynolds," in reply to Mr. Johnston, said that Melbourne valuation would be placed on goods imported direot from Victoria. In discussion on the schedule of the Bill, Mr. Johnston moved as an amendment that tip uniform duties be reduced to seven and a,-hajf itysteaji often per oent.

Doubm-Fubro^ Ploughs. —The single- furrow plough is, almost obsolete in the Western district of Otago, all farmers who have sufficient work using douhle-furrows. Upon many farms three or four ot the latter class ploughs may be seen at work.— Brux