THE TARIFF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9024, 3 September 1907, Page 3

THE TARIFF.

! - 1 THE DUTY ON FLOUR. [Fkom Our Cobresfondknt.] WELLINGTON, September 3. , The House of Representatives will proceed with the Tariff Bill to-day. Some of the most difficult points -have already been dealt with and tho chief snags ahead now so-em to be_ flour and mining machinery. The division on the motion to abolish the flour duty, which will be moved again by Mr Hogg, is likely to be keenly interesting. The member for Masterton claims that he can carry his motion, which on the last discussion was defeated by 32 to 31, but, on the other hand, vigorous opposition from Canterbury and elsewhere has hardened up the country members. Probably the <luty will be retained by a small majority if a straight-out division results, but there is .a possibility of. a compromise in the direction of fixing the duty on a sliding scale. Judging by the vapid progress already made it will not be eurprising if consideration of the tariff is concluded this week. The Minister of Lands will probably then move the serond reading of the Land Bill on Tuesday next. fP»* Pkmr Aaioru.Tiox.l WELLINGTON, September 3. A deputation of fruit growers and others interested in the industry waited on the Minister of Customs this morning with a request for the removal of the duty from spray pumps and insecticides. Mr Millar said that the whole difficulty lay in the definition of " spray pump." Until a clear definition was provided, tho Government would not be asked to put spray pumps on the Free list. Ho was prepared to put a duty on imported fruit trees if it could be shown that the young plants could be grown in the colony. His main object was the encouragement of our own industries. He could not sacrifice one industry for another.