HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 197, 14 August 1873, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON.

Monday, August 11. Mr Rollesf on moAcs against tho tariff, alleging that many of the duties proposed would heavily and unjmtly tax the necessities of the working classes, and articles required i'or local industries ; lie tlurvfore proposed that the scale should be re\ ised, so as to admit biicli articles free, or at lower duties The (io\ eminent will probably bavo to gue very largely on the ftu iil'.

Tuesday, August 12. During the yew emlted .Tune 30th, the authorised issues to and purchase by natives were :—ln.: — In. the Mongonui district, for half-year, only 1351bs powder, 4251bs shot, B,^oo caps. .Auckland district : 311bs powder, 7tllb» shot, 7i750 caps. Thames district : 27ibs powder, 20ilbs sliot, 6,500 cap?. Waikato : 41bs powder, 3Glbs &hot, 1,000 caps. Bny o( Plenty and Like district . 7lbs powder, 701bs shot, 750 caps. Tnrnuaki district : 20 i Ibs powder, Oolbs shot, 4,850 cap a . Upper \A ang.mui district : 42lbs powder, 4201bs sliot, 6,000 cips. Kangitikei, Manawutu district: Blbs powder, 801bs shot, and 2,000 caps. airwapa. distriot : 211bs powder, 2101bs shot, 5,250 caps. In Taupo none weie issued. The following bills were rend a first time :— Greymouth: — Greymouth Harbour Boiml Bill, Wangamu, Rivngitikci, and Pattea Shares Bill, Kuihvay llcserves Bill, Provincial Loans Empowering Bill> Bill lor creation of West land into a Province. In reply to Mr Bradshaw, the Minister of Justice said the Government intended ta obtain a« opinion from the Attorney-General as to whether the requirements of the New Zealand University Act, 1870, are complied with ; and whether the Um\ersity of Otagacan be considered the New Zealand University under the Act of 1870. Mr Vogel moved the second reading of tho Tariff 1 Bill. He said that undet the new tariff it was believed there would be raised additional l evenue of £50,OX)0. A misconception existed throughout the country regarding tho effect of the new tarill', especially regarding the item hardware. The Government did not propose to interfere with steel or iron. The duly on carls and carriages would be increased from 5 to 10 per cent., to secure uniformity of tariff. Tho Government would ask the Home to sanction a uniform ml valorem tariff of 10 per cent., and pass a bill with that object to-night. The Government proposed to exempt certain articles which affect local industries — sudi as lead, copper, brass, iron in pigs awl bar*, sheet non r writing paper (not less than demy size), in original wrappers, and uncut. It was proposed to tax boiled sugar and sugw-candy twopence per pound ; othc» •orts of conlectionery, 10 per cent. Mr Llolleston expressed his satisfaction that the Government had adopted his resolution in favor ol encouraging local industry, either by admitting aHicles required for the development of local industries free, or at lower rates tlian those proposed, but it was questionable whether a 10 percent. ad valorem duty would be ndvuntagt »us. Mr Gillies criticised the statement of the Treasurer, made in tho Financial Statement, to the eHcct that the new tan If would not increase taxation' The ml valorem system would offer encouragement to fraud. Time be given to consider the new proposal. Mr Stafford said that there was nothing in either the measurement or ad valorem system necessarily involving injustice. The measurement system provided for classification. Jn reply to the Treasurer 1 * argument that oil valorem duties would promote reciprocity, he said that New isoutli Wales was about to introduco tho measui ement b\ »' em. Victoria also had a large free list. Here, every article of consumption would be taxed. Some articles, under the new tariff,, would pay ten times- more than formerly. The House was not in possession of the necessary information to judge of the differont values under the old and tho new systems. The ad valorem system tended to- encourage the importation of inferior goods. It wts remarkable that the Commissioner of Customs was silent oft this question. He had left the work to Ins over-weighted colleague. On several articles Government should impose a maximum rate, lower than 10 per cent , or place them on the free list. There were industries which should not be over-burdened. Thero were several agricultural implements which would have to pay four or fhe times moiu than under tho old system. Mr Reynolds would be prepared to explain the tariff in committee. Ho had been very mttch astonished to 6ee the largest importing house, even in Dunedin, state that the new tariff would produce a very large increase. Almost all the respectable firms in the colony were mistaken in f heir calculations regarding the tariff. There might be evils in the ail valorem system, but there were also evils in the measurement system. Consumers -would prevent the large importations o inferior goods. Mr Atkinson asked what would be the actual increase linden the former proposed ad valorem system and the 10 per cent, system. Mr Key nolds said that under the present proposal, it would be from £10,000 to £12,000 h* reuse in revenue. Mr Pearce suggested delay lor the consideration of the new proposal. The proposed duties would tax boots and shoes 150 per cent, above present taxation. There should bo two classes of rates — one 10 per cent, tho other 5. The increase on chinawaie would bo large. On saddlery it would be more than double. Ho would ask the Commissioner, whether by his instructions the new duties were bring collected on goods on which sight entries had been passed. Mr Reynolds replied in the affirmative. Tho new duties wore only being collected upon goods delivered at the time the tariff resolutions were pa«scd. He hoped the biM would pass 10-night, otherwise adiantago might be taken of the knowledge of the intention of the Go\ eminent. Mr Stafford asked, how could advantage be taken when the proposal was to lower the duties. Mr Reader Wood said that the Commissioner was entirely ignorant of tho probable opevation of the tariff. He could not tell the House what, under present circumstance*, would be the difference in jield under the new tariff, as compared with the measurement system. The House was indebted to the Press for calculations to guide it, and the Commissioner of Customs had not been able to disprove them. The House was left entirely in the dark. The Government did not understand their own tariff, but merely guessed at 20 per cent. Being corroded hv tho House and the Press, the Government then guessed 10 per cent, would be sufficient. The Government had no reliable information on the subject, and nobody appeared to know whether tho revenue would be more or less. He referred to the statement of the firm of Ireland Brothers, of Auckland, that the increase on grindery and brush ware would be from 500 to (500 percent. ; also to tho statement of Clarke and Sons, to the effect that they would have to paj double the former duty on shipments just arrived. Ho strongly urged the postponement of the bill. Mr Cracroft Wilson referred) to the statements of tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, showing the duties to bo nearly double under the new tari/F. Kren under the measurement principle there were considerable importations of inferior ar. ides. Mr Hunter said that under the measurement system no attention was paid to value ; therefore it was impossible to calculate tho revenue- in ono ca«e, as compared with the other. The most satisfactory system would be to place a tariff on a fow simple articles, admitting all other* free. Ho hoped that 5 and 10 per cent, duties would be established in committee ; trade had been much paralysed since tho now duties remained unvoted, and the sooner tho question was settled tho better. Mr E. L Shepherd said all the objections to the new tariff had come from traders, and not from the consumers. Ho advocated tho encouragement of local industries Tariff should be removed uff raw material. Local manufactures .should bo stimulated, and the colony rendered independent (of foreign importations. Ho supported tho proposed tanJ

Mr Biicklanti «»id th* fwl/mrroi Uio country would neces--*it do increased taciturn, pwi 'r%% few yews an income-tax. Hi- *>iipporteil tlif tarirt", Mr Swanwn «»nibiif«* fV jTrpwrrnt of Mr Shepherd, tli i( rnw nmJerwl nftottld b>- it»|j(/rtcil Vo»j j what was raw ni'iloruil to on« wns* Mianofii fmrd mnticrusb b<y another. Wlrit wns f.he objci-t of t)i« u!»er»!icm in (>hs taTtfiVif not to Hierciso the rcfcniw? The debate ww» adjourned. : Mr Vt>gpl nnnoiinced thai tT« GbrCTnrnrnt irttfkPraws-tlhe Electoral 1311, and wcu'd nest mtwior. bnng m otlwrs nbo'i hm>j bhD nuitenr right twl «fo»«i4nting manhood oullrnge, witFi registration and concstiw qfcnhfioar tion.