N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8364, 27 September 1895, Page 2

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

[Pbb United Fkbbs Abbociatob.] Wellington, September 26. COUNCIL. The Council met at 2-30. The Census Act Ameudment Bill and the Ufldlassified ; Societies Begatation Bill were read a first time. ' ' The Fencing Bill was farther oorisldefedin Committee, bat no material amendment W«a made. The Council then rose. HOUSE. The House met at 2.30 p m. r. The Honee went into Committee bl'Vifayi and Means, when a series of reßotatjone (telegraphed separately) imposing dittos bi five per cent on machinery were brought down. >. •= ' In reply to Mr Carnerosß, Mr Ward mid he had exempted oertain classes of machine cry, in ooneequeiroe of which the tax would yield only about £4500, instead of £6000, as stated last evening. v Paper ruling and paper catting guillotine machines were included in the five per cent duty. Mutton birds were Btruck out of the free list and obarged a duty of twenty per cent. Mowing machines and exra p«ts for reapers and binderß, mouldboards, p'ougb shares and plough rests were added to the free list. ■"**.' AH machinery for agricultural purptflm «' not otherwise entimerated " was plaotd under the five per cent 7 diity. ' '< The reeolationß as amended wera then re* potted to the House, and referred to tbe Commit lee. ■'-:.-.• ■ v. .. On the Cuetomß and Excise 1 Datrei Bill being recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering oertain schedules and duties of ive per cent on machinery, in reply to Mr J. W» Kelly, Mr Ward stated the Government had no intention of again bringing up tbe quea* tion of inoreased duty on packet tea for eon* stderation. A motion by Mr G. J. Smith that the BUI be also recommitted for the purpose ol etrik* ing cut Turkey twills from the duty ot 20 per cent was lost by 34 to 26. The House roße at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m Mr Allen moved for the reoommital of the clause whioh provided that no refind of duties should be made. •bst by 42 to 15. The Bill was then reoommited. Mr Duthie movad bis clause to provide for the appointment of a Board of six persons to assist to advise the Commissioner cf Customs. Mr Ward opposed the clause, a»d raid it wonld be a mistake to eet op a Board of this nature. He pointed out that no appeal had been made to the Court from a uing'e decision whilst he had be*n Commissioner. The clause was rejected by 43 to 13. The 5 per cent, machinery proposal! Were added to tbe Bill, and the other amendments agreed to in Committee of Ways and Meant, were inserted in the Bil'. - - ' : Mr Larnaoh moved that machinery -of every description for mining purposes be strnek out from the five per oent doty. Mr Seddon said this duty wag neoecs*ry for revenue purposes, although, as •goldfield representative, he waa anxious ■ to enoourage tbat industry as much m possible* Lost by 42 to 27. " The Bill was then reported with Amendments, whioh were agreed to. On the motion for the third readtng^Qap. tain Bussell said he thought the Oohnrial Treasurer would have to take it upon himself to explain the Bill. He did no. believe there was a member in the House, not thrsd the Colonial Treasurer himself, who dnderttrjod tbe Bill. The tariff was simply a oold rehash of the tariff of 1888, and it had nothing in it from beginning to end to reoommend it. Nobody waß satisfied with it, not even the Colonial Treasurer himself. He complained tbat no consideration whatever had been shown to the people in this tariff : nearly every article of food, including even 1 fruit, wftß singled oat for taxation, and be detailed variouß other obannels in whioh extra taxation was inflioted. It was an. extremely foolish thing to put extra taxation on food and olotbes and other thing* that affected tbe health and comfort of the people. He oonld not understand the aotion of th& Government in taxing machinery, whioh was eseential to the euooesa of every industry of the country. All through this tariff the Government Eeemed to have only considered how they could best conciliate a lew muiufaotarers in the towns at the expense of the agricultural and pastoral section of tbe com* mnnity. From first to last the tariff tad been ill considered, ill diges ed, and ill conducted through the House, and be believed it would do more thin all the epeeohes of the Opposition to impeach the Government in the eyes of the country. Mr Seddon pointed out tbat Captain Baßsell bad also been opposed to the tariff of 1888. Every word be bad nttered to-night was flattery compared with the oritioism he had passed on Sir H. Atkinson's tariff, but for years Captain Rusßtli had sat on the Treasury benches and accepted revenue from tbe tariff he had condemned, whioh was far from be'ng consistent. Tbe Government were well satisfied with the tariff, but he never exported members on the Opposition side of the House to be satisfied with it. When tbe tariff waß explained to tbe eoontry and got in thorough working order, ha be* lieved it would be found greatly to tbe advantage of tbe indnatriefe of Ibe Colony. If for nothing more tban to deal with soft goods it was neoesßary tb»t this tariff rhonld become law. The tariff was being brought down for tbe benefit of the country, and not to please either freetraders or prdteotioDiste. Mo Colonial Treasurer had carried his tariff tbroogb tbe New Zealand Parliament with «o much peace as bis worthy' colleague atf Wart". He reminded tbe House of the passage of the 1888 tariff, and said tbe then Colonial Treasurer was almost fit for another world by tbe time tbe Bill passed. There wae a benefit to the people of £24,000 by the redaction on tea, and tbe Government oonld tell

the people that they were" the Governmenl tbftt reduced tea, and took the first itep to* wardi a frse breakfast table. They had alec relieved farmers to the extant of £7,000, it fenoing wire. He asserted that there nevei bad been a tariff that had gone through tha Hoote with Baob larg* majorities, and witt bo little wbippiog, bs the: tariff in thia Bill It bad beed a go-aB-Toa-^leaßo tariff, bdc mdinben bid voted actidrdiDg toi the dititatee of their eonroience. He repli6Js 10 Oa^tair BaaaeU'a ontkHßtoß of eeveral Oetaih of tbii meaau", apd^gain deolared bis opinion thai ibe tievr tariff would benefit commerce and indtittry; md also prove sufficient to mccl the reqaHremtntß of the reveane. ,•■->•■•