THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4901, 19 October 1901, Page 1

THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Melbourne, October 16» .

Mr Reid's speech in. moving his can- , sure motion was hardly up to his usual form or expectations. He usually scores his best points off interruptions. The « Government, knowing thiß, took the precaution to warn their followers not to in- . terrupt him, and evidently the Opposition leader felt the want of a spur. Mr Barton will make an effort to get a division on Friday. A gentleman prominently connected with the timber trade says : ( The trainers of the tariff, when fixing the siz9 for New Zealand white pine at 12in by Gin, and above that exempt, were evidently ignorant of the fact that very small quantities of that aizd are obtainable. The mills have only Australia to look to to absorb the smaller size, as New* * Zealand cannot. It is extremely improbable that the increased prices necessitated by the duty will be obtainable. Australia wants the timber for butter and fruit boxes, and New Zealand alone can supply it. Can anyone in reason aay ft duty on white pine is desirable 1 ? ' Berlin, October 15. The German press adversely criticise the Australian tariff. . „

A CHICAGO telegram in the " Daily Mail" says : — Mr Harvey Scott, of Paribaalfc. Mia- - nesota, who publicly bnrned banknote! awountiug to £4.00 last winter, has jnsfc died at the age of 82. la order to prevent- hi* three heirs, whom he disliked, from getting any more of bis property than he could help, bis will directs that £5,000 iv banknotes shall be bnrne i, and loaves a like sum in stocks to bis heirs. The executor thinks that if he burns the money he will be gnilty of arson, just aa H he destroyed a house or other pro* perty, and be refuses to take the risk of going to prison. The heirs will contest the will, alleging insanity. An amusiag story is told of Mr Gladstone, who loved to loiter round the seoond-hand bookshop windows and finger the volnmes which were there displayed. If he picked up a bonk that iuterested him ha frequently be* came quite oblivious to hia surrounding*. On one of these occasions a loafer, who mast have carefully studied Mr GUditone's hablti» whispered quietly, " Half-a-orown, pleiift, sir." Without raising his eyes from the book Mr Gladstone pat his hand in hia pocket and_ handed over the half-crown. A few minntet* later be was going off with his prize when the bookseller, who knew him well by sight, stopped him with a demand for Is, the prioo" of the book. " But I have already given yoa half-a-orown," said Mr Gladstone, and ex* planations followed. The book was " Earlier Poems," by Sir Henry Parkes, the " Grand Old Man " of Australia.