PROPOSED TARIFF ALTERATIONS.

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 45, 27 July 1907, Page 18

PROPOSED TARIFF ALTERATIONS.

AN INDIGNATION HEETINQ

(For the Observer),

AM EASTING of merchants and importers was held yesterday afternoon at> the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of discussing the proposed alterations in the Customs Tariff. The Hon. Seymour Thome George proposed that Mr Peter Virtue should take the chair. He felt sure that Mr Virtue would uphold the honour with all due diguity. Mr Virtue said that he felt bound to rise to a- point ot order. '1 he question was whether the chair would support him. He was a wiry man of very considerable weight — in fact, Sir Joseph Ward had done him the honour to admit that he (Mr Virtue) was a Champion heavyweight in wiriness. Being bound to rise, he objected strongly to sitting in that chair, as he felt sure that, if he did so, he would be bound to fall. Personally, he thought that the Hon. J. S. Dickson, who was in the confidence of the Cabinet, and who should therefore be in a position to give them much valuable information, should take the chair. This was seconded by the Hon. E. Mitchelson, and carried unanimously. The Hon. J. S. Dickson, whose blush was just audible at the reporters' table, said that he understood that the meeting had been called' together for the purpose of passiug a vote of censure on Mr T. Finlayson (dissent and uproar from Mr Fiulayson). With those few remarks he would conclude by proposing a , vote of thanks to the chair. He thought it was hardly decent of Mr Finlayson to Mr T.. T. Maseneld objected to the Chairman's remarks (Loud applause by Mr Finlayson). They had met together to consider the proposed alterations in the tariff. Personally, he thought they were disgraceful. In the first place, he considered that a prohibitive duty should certainly be . ..placed on^*-^ — ' Mr S. D. Hanna : " Fish hooks and pea-rifles," ; Mr Maseneld appealed to the chair for protection. He was aware that Mr Hanna was a J,P., and was therefore entitled to sympathy. At the same time his (Mr Hanna's) remarks of place. He (Mr Maseneld) about to t-ay that a prohibitive duty should certainly be placed on im- . plotted politicians, especially on those coming from America. He bad wired /vrjfciis I'opinions1 'opinions to his friend, Mr C. J. [ : -'Pa,t't-j who was then and • ' ;Kh;ad-feceived a reply stating that he : tMf was in perfect sympathy :a#lthiheiictea. ;• •;: -Mr,vK. F. Way said that the duty " ;ipro,posed by Mr Maßefield ought to be • .' put on at once, or at least before Mr came back from Queensland. :„.?' Dr ii. Stopford said that he did not 3knoVif ( anything about tariffs, but he ' wished to move a vote of condolence with the tram car conductors in their affliction. He considered that the tramway service was the most disgraceful one in the — — ":The chairman ruled Dr Stopford out qrder. .^-•■^■^"T /l " pr/Stopfprd said that he would re-pxftti4jtfe-'chairman'B conduct to the tramwaiy^mplQyees' unidn, who would probably deui with 'him (the chairman) '""■later;- ■■■-'.—-• <-- -' ■ Mr Arthur Rosser said that, being unaccustomed to public speaking, and being naturally modest, he rose with some diffidence. He had heard a rumour from his friend, Mr Paul Hansen, that an individual called Ben lillGtt»waß .-about, to-be imported into the colony. He thought that it was high time a prohibitive, duty was , t . p.lutped;, upon .. i^bour agitators. They ■■-- eoul'd very well be manufactured locally ;

in fact, be was quite sure that the locally made article was much superior to tb imported. Protection was an absolute necessity, in order that the? workers' interests should be conserved. Mr A. J. Entrican said he didn't care a penny ha'penny about labour agitators. He objected to any revision of the tariff on the ground that it was conducive of gambling. Even an innocent article like sugar could then be made the instrument of death and destruction. While he was on his feet, he felt that it was an opportune time to point out that be had a few building society shares for sale. These, to any person who was willing; to undertake a certain amount ot risk, were certain to prove a profitable investment. Mr J. T. Julian said he noticed that it was proposed to allow motor cars to' come in free. He strongly objected tothis. Motor cars were the curse of thecountry. (Cheers from Dr Stopford). He spoke fuom personal and expertkn6wledge.. Mr George George rose to a point ofr order. He demanded to know by what, right Mr Julian claimed to be an expert. It was a well-known fact that he (Mr George) was the only expert on any subject in Auckland. Even Mr P. A. Vajle had come to recognise: that fact, and had gone away in> despair, leaving him (Mr George) in undisputed possession ot the field. If: Mr Julian did not instantly withdraw his words and apologise, he (MrGeorge) would be under the painful l necessity' of feeding him (Mr Julian)i with some resurrection pie made by the young ladies of the Technical; School cookery class, under the personal supervision of Mr John Payne. Mr Julian here sat upon Mr George; George, and, the Cardinal being in< attendance, the remains were at once--removed to the morgue. Dr Stopford said he would like tc know if the Tramway Company'sUnion of workers had been consulted! with reference to the proposed changesin the tariff. He had wired to Sir Josephi Ward on the matter, but had received! a most evasive reply. He certainly thought it would only have beem decent if the tramway employees hadi been consulted before the proposedl alterations were made public. The 1 Government had been guilty of gross' discourtesy, and he had reason to believe that the sensitive feelings of theemployees — especially of the conductors — had been much hurt. He 1 begged to move a vote of censure oni the Government and Paul Hansen for having The Chairman ruled Dr Stopfordl out of order, and the doctor, after muttering some words, which were understood to be in the Lancashire dialect, resumed his seat. Mr A. Kohn said that, in his opinion, it was high time that a prohibitive duty was placed upon bagpipes. He objected to such instruments being brought into the colony at all. As a respectable shopkeeper, he objected to Queen-street being turned into a pandemonium by the St. Andrew's band. Besides which, the costumes worn by the assassins were positively indecent. Mr P. M. Mackay asked if the haverin' wee gomeral who had just sat down jaloused that he (Mr Mackay)' was an eckle fechan auchtermuahty. If so, he (Mr Mackay) would soon show him (the haverin' gomeral) that he (the haverin' gomeral) was an ill— faured suraph. The Chairman hastily declared Mr Mackay's motion— for which b.e expressed admiration — carried, and the meeting adjourned to the nearest pump to cool their heacU. -