25

8.—2.

We shall propose, then, to substitute ad valorem for measurement duties. But, before specifying the rates of duty we intend to submit, I have to state that I shall, at the conclusion of my remarks, ask the Committee to support the Government so far as to authorize the collection of those duties temporarily, during the time necesssary for a full discussion of the whole question. Supposing that I abstained from giving to the Committee more information, I have given enough to cause much wild speculation, in the absence of a knowledge of the rates of duty the Government have decided to recommend. There is no good to be gained by refusing to authorize a temporary collection of the new duties ; and, in order that there may be no misconception as to the matter, the Government undertake— (1.) Not to regard the consent of the Committee, or of the House, to the temporary collection of ad valorem duties, as a decision in favour of such duties, or of any other proposal made in the Budget. (2.) If the Legislature refuse to sanction the substitution of ad valorem duties, or to sanction any particular rate of duty proposed, the Government will return any amounts paid by importers in excess of the amounts that would be payable under the decision of the Legislature. By this declaration, consent to the temporary collection of the new duties is reduced, I think, to a mere matter of courtesy; and it leaves me at liberty to say that I propose to conclude by moving the following Resolution : — That in lieu of the Duties of Customs now charged on the Articles undermentioned, the following Duties of Customs shall, on and after the thirtieth day of July, 1873, until otherwise ordered by Parliament, be charged thereon on Importation into New Zealand, or on being cleared from any Warehouse for home consumption, viz.:— Confectionery ... ... ... ... ... ... ..." Furniture and Cabinet Ware, Desks, Dressing Cases, Picture Frames, Framed Paintings, Engravings and Prints, Looking Glasses, Papier Mache Ware, Turnery, Buckets and S Tubs of wood, and Woodenwaro not otherwise enumerated ... ... ... § Matches and Vestas ... ... ... ... ... ... ... "« Musical Instruments ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ' Oilman's Stores, viz.: Arrowroot in bottles jars or tins, Baking Powder, Capers, Caraway Seeds, Catsup, Chutney, Curry Powder and Paste, Essence of Coffee, Fish potted and \- | preserved, Fish Paste, Fruits bottled or preserved in syrup, Flavouring Essences, ■g Gelatine, Groats prepared, Isinglass, Jams, Jellies, and Marmalade, Liquorice, g Macearoni, Maizena and Corn Flour, Meats potted and preserved, Mustard, Olives, t* Oysters preserved, Pepper Cayenne, Pickles, Raspberry yinegar, Rice ground, Sago &■ and Tapioca in bottles jars or tins, Sauces, Syrups; Oil (vegetable or other) in bottle, J2 Oil perfumed, Starch and Blue, Soap Powder, Washing Powder, Vegetables dried or preserved, Vermicelli ... ... ... ... ... ... J Apparel and Ready-made Clothing, and all articles made up wholly or in part from silk, cotton, linen, or wool, or of other or of mixed materials, Bonnets, Hats and Caps, Furs, Collars and Cuffs of paper or other material, Blankets, Woollen, Cotton, and Opossum or other Rugs, Cotton Counterpanes Boots, Shoes, Slippers and Goloshes, Boot and Shoe Vamps and Uppers, Cork Soles, Clogs and Pattens. Leather Leggings, Leather cut into shapes, and Leather Manufactures not otherwise enumerated Brushware not otherwise enumerated, and Brooms Carpets, Drugget, Mats, Matting and Floor Cloth ... ... ... ... ~ China ware, Porcelain, Parian ware, Earthenware, Glassware, Plate Glass, and Globes and «; Chimneys for Lamps ... ... ... ... ... ... -S Cotton Manufactures not otherwise enumerated, and all articles made of cotton mixed with s> any other material ... ... ... ... ... ... « Drapery not otherwise enumerated ... ... ... ... ... g Forfar Sheeting, Scrim Cloth, and Hessians ... ... ... ... ... ' _3 G-utta Percha Manufactures not being apparel ... ... ... ... S Haberdashery, Milinery, and Hosiery ... ... ... ... ... " Linen Manufactures not otherwise enumerated, and all articles made of linen mixed with any g, other material ... ... ... ... ... ... Portmanteaus, Trunks, Carpet Bags, and Leather or Leather-cloth Bags ... ... Saddlery and Harness, Whips and Walking-sticks Shirts, white, regatta, Crimean, navy serge, twilled, and fancy Silks and all Manufactures containing silk Trowsers, moleskin and cord Toys, Tobacco Pipes, and Fancy Goods Umbrellas and Parasols ... ... ... ... Woollen Manufactures not otherwise enumerated, and all articles made of wool mixed with any other material ... ... ... ... ... ... _, 7

It will be proposed to collect new Duties at once.

Conditions upon which assent of House asked.

Resolution to be> proposed.

Proposed New Scale of Duties.