GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 723, 16 September 1870, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

« The following reports of business done in the House of Representatives are taken from the Independent of Sept. 10 and Sept. 13 : — CUSTOMS TARIFF BILL. Mr Yogel, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said it was to make the alterations in the Customs tariff which had been temporarily agreed to in the earlier part of the session. Most hon. members were of opinion that they wanted something to develope the self-sustenance of the colony, which he believed was the opinion of a majority of that House. (No, no.) It was no use disguising the fact that the battle was between the settler and the merchant. On the one hand they might eat a loaf of New Zealand flour, and they would then have the satisfaction of knowing that they were contributing towards the road rates of the colony, and on the other they would in eating a loaf of Adelaide flour know that they were contributing to ther. sources of another colony. He thought it would be far tetter to allow the Bill to pass its second reading and go through ommittee, and take the issue on the single division whether or not the Bill should be allowed to come into force unf : l the end of next September; Mr Fox said that he did not hold tbe protective views expressed by his hon. colleague, and he would remind the House that this matter was an open one with the Government. Hon. members had raised the cry of the poor man's loaf, but let them see what it came to. The tax proposed would increase the price of bread to the amount of onetenth pf a penny, and he contended that in a country like this it was such an infinitesimal amount as not at all to affect the poor man's loaf. The fact that they were producing enough to feed themselves was not an argument the Bill, as if the price in England rose to 10s per bushel, tbe whole of the corn in Canterbury would be sent home in the wool-ships, so that it really would be found they would have to import wheat, while at the same time they were growing wheat sufficient to feed themselves. Another fact was, that those hon. members who op • posed the imposition of duty on corn should show why it, above all things, was to be exempted from duty. He wished to record his vote not from a protective point of view, but from that of revenue. Mr Hau«hton said that he should vote against the bill being read a second time. The Hon. Treasurer had told them tbat tbere was no principle involved in this bill, and he should vote against it on this ground. He fully agreed with tbe remark of the hon. member for Riverton that the circumstances in one part of the colony were widely different from those of another. He would point out that while Canterbury was exporting cereals, Auckland was importing, and he did not see why they should tax tbe inhabitants of Auckland for tbe sake of the Canterbury farmers. And speaking of the flour from the Canterbury province, he might say that it required an admixture of other flour to make from it a good loaf ; and further be thought that if this admixture were carried into their politics it would be much better. He might say he looked upon the member for Timaru as the California flour mixed with the Canterbury flour. (Laughter.) There was really no reason why persons should have to pay double for a tin o salmon ; was this to protect native induetry ? There was one salmon in Otago and one salmon trout in Canterbury, the first of which cost £5000 and the latter £800. (Laughter.) Well, if they were going in to protect this native industry he thought they were beginning rather early. With regard to the fei.cing wire, staples, &c, be waß quite aware of what it meant. It meant that tbat very hardly dealt with class, the pastoral tenants, should be relieved ; well, be was quite in favour of it, and thought they should be relieved of — the land which they were locking up from useful occupation. One hon.

member bad said that there was a member in that House who bad erected something like 150 miles of wire fencing on bis run. Well, if this Bill was allowed to pass the whole of the colony would shortly be fenced in. He would desire to point out to tbe hon. member for Kaiapoi that spirits of tar was exempt from duty, but he was not aware whether feathers were. fMr Studholme: Those sort of things are confined to the diggings ] The hon. member for Kaiapoi had spoken of the diggings. He had once been there; might he enquire whether he intended to visit them again. (Laughter.) He should support the motion that tbe Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr Moorhouse said that he was a representative of an industry which was quite as important as that represented by those hon. members from the Goldfields. The miners, he contended were a migratory and floating population, and one who had not the slightest wish to remain in the country for a single moment if superior attractions were offered to them in some other parts of the world. He stood there as an advocate of a class of the community who, he contended, were entitled to receive some consideration at the hands of that House. Those who supported the measures of the Government should be careful that tbey did not pauperise the farmers and farm labourers of the colony. The great basis of it was population, and taxation would be necessary to pay the int: rest on their loans, and if the farmer wes unable to pay his labourers on account of the refusal by the House to consider his case, he would not employ labour, and the consequence of this would be that confidence would be disturbed, and the Government would have a number of men clamouring to them. He did hope that the House would allow the second reading to pass and take the discussion in committee, when the claims of the farmer might be fairly argued out, and the objections of the gentlemen representing the mining interest might then be somewhat modified. The bill was thrown out. The following is the division list : — Ayes 14 — Messrs Brandon, Carrington, Fox, H. S. Harrison, Kelly, M'Lean, Rolleston, Tancred, Yogel, Williamson, Wilson, Hall, Moorhouse (teller) Studholme (teller). Noes 26 — Messrs Baigent, Barff, O'Rorke, Richmond, Russell, Stafford, Swan, Taylor, Wells, Wood, Bradshaw, Carleton, Brown/ Clark, Dignan, Eyes, W. H. Harrison, Jollie, Kenny, Kynnersley, Ludlam, M'GPlivray, M'lndoe, Munro, Borlase (teller), Bunny (teller). REPORT OF FLAX COMMISSION. Mr Ludlam moved that the House go into committee on th 3 report of the Flax Commission, with a view to its adoption. The House then went into committee on the report, which was taken clause by clause. In committee, Mr Ludlam moved clause one as follows : — That a commission be appointed consisting of three members resident in New Zealand, such commission to have power to appoint one or two agents in England to be in correspondence with the commission, and generally to carry out their instructions. Mr Vocel said that he did not think that the recommendations of the committee were calculated to advance the interests of the industry. They did not know the uses to which flax was adapted, and until they did so it was of no uee making these dilletante efforts. What he thought was the best mode of stimulating this industry was to offer rewards for exhibitions of flax, and leave it to local enterprise to develope it. It was pro posed by this resolution to appoint agents at home by the commission, which was taking out of the hands of the Government any real control over the matter. He was of opinion that the first proposition of the Government was by far the best, as in that case the commission at home would have a status which under the appointment of the agents by the Flax Commissioners it could never attain. Mr Macandrew said that tbe very best method to obtain valuable information would be to offer a large reward to anyone who would invent a scheme for the discharging of the gum from the fibre. After some discussion, the clause was agreed to on the voices. Mr Ludlam then moved the clause as follows which was agreed to : — 2. That the I duty of the Commission shall be : (1.) To j visit the chief districts in the colony where flax fibre is prepared , To institute or to assist mechanical experiments on New Zealand flax, with a view to cheapen the cost of manufacture and to improve the quality of tbe fibre produced. To collect samples of all kinds of fibre produced in quantity and by processes not precluded by their expense from being generally adopted, and to carefully collate full particulars as to the variety of the plant from which the fibre bas been prepared, and the process of dressing, including Maori-dressed flax. (2.) To send a portion of the samples so collected to the agents before-mentioned, with a view to their obtaining from the best authorities, a report on the microscopic structure and chemical composition of the New Zealand flax leaf and fibre as compared with Irish flax, Russian and Manilla hemp. (3). To ascertain if possible the reason why Manila hemp made into rope resists the action of sea water better than the phormium tenax. (4) The relative capacity of the New Zealand flax fibre and Russian hemp to absorb lar. Clause three was then agreed to :— Tbat the agents shall act under the instructions of the Commission, not only with regard to the above named points, but shall also ascertain — (1) The market value of the fibre and the reason for the different prices obtained. (2) To place in the hands of manufacturers supplies of the variouß kinds of flax fibre ; witb the view of ascertaining by practical tests to what purpose it can be profitably applied. (3) To procure samples (say two or three hundredweight each) of the various fibres that compete in the English market with the phormium tenax, viz., Russian, Manilla, and Italian hemp, jute, and Irish flax, so as to afford information to New Zealand flix-

dressers as to the quality of fibre which it is 'desirable should be produced by them. {4) i To submit to makers of flax machines in the ; mother country samples of our prepared flax, and invite suggestions as to the improvement of the machines ÜBually employed in the the colony. (5) Generally to ascertain what can be done to extend the use and increase the market value of the flax fibre. On clause four, That properly qualified officers (if possible in connection with the Customs) should be appointed at each port, who on application by shippers should sample the various bales, and place an official brand thereon, showing the quality as compared with standard samples issued to them by the Commission, such clarification to be similar to the manner in which_ foreign-grown hemp or flax is classified, viz , first, Becond, and tbiid qualities'. Mr Harrison said tbat it was exceedingly desirable that some officer should be appointed under the Government or some recognised authority to examine the bales and affix a certain brand, which should be the standard of value. In Canterbury and in Wellington he had seen flax in bales which showed some three or four different degrees of flax, the value varying from £10 per lon. He therefore thought that this resolution should be agreed to, as it would result in the best varieties being separated and distinguished by an official and recognised brand. Mr M'lndoe did not think that this resolution would be of any practical use. It would be far better to leave the matter in the bands of the merchants who dealt in the article. Mr Wilson and Mr Hall supported the clause, whioh was agreed to. Mr Ludlam then moved — That until we can fix a standard of what constitutes gcod New Zealand fibre, it wouid not be advisable to have an Exhibition next year, or offer £500 in prizes. If any money be spent it should be applied for ascertaining the best varieties of flax which it is desirable to cultivate, and for encouraging the manufacture of ropes, woolpacks, and bagging. With this view rewards are recommended to be given to any to any person or persons who shall manufacture within the colony 20,000 cornsacks or 5000 woolpacks or 20,000 gunny bags. Mr Harrison said he thought that 20,000 cornsacks was rather a large number to be manufactured before the reward was granted. Mr Hall said he thought that it was necessary to fix a large number, because it might be found that if it were fixed at a lower rate, persons would be found to carry out an expensive process for the purpose of obtaining the reward, thereby defeating the object the Commission bad in view. Tbe clause passed on the voices. Clause 6 also was carried without a division. That there should be an exhibition in 1872, and prizes given, not only as proposed in the Government resolutions, but also for machinery. "Mr Lublam then moved clause seven as follows: — That collections of flax plants of the best varieties be made, and information obtained as to the uses to which these varieties are severally applied by the natives; also the nature of the soil on which they are found to grow naturally. That such varieties be planted in some suitable locality. He said that it was of the utmost importance that collections of the best varieties of flax should be made and itß natural gr owth fostered. Mr M'Lean said he thought the best means of solving the difficulty would be to offer a reward for the best cultivated acre of flax — open to both the natives and Europeans — and he thought that mauy of the small settlers in the North Island would cultivate a small patch of flax land if some encouragement were offered to them for so doing. The Government took the utmost interest in this industry, and would in every way foster it. They would in the selection of Commissioners try and appoint gentlemen who would work zealously in tbe matter. The resolutions as a whole were then reported to tbe House and adopted.