A SLEEPY AFTERNOON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 July 1926, Page 9

A SLEEPY AFTERNOON.

FOLLOWS LATE SITTING. FACTS AND SOME FUN. BRAINS NOT REQUIRED. (B.v Telegraph. -Parliamentary Reporter.l WELLINGTON, Thursday. "I can promise members that when the House meets at half-past two this afternoon the business will be of a nature not likely to require much brain work." «a;il t' lc fri' llo Minister in moving the adjournment at 3.4/) o'clock on Thursday morning. A jaded looking House assembled for the afternoon session with this promise as the most prominent thing in its mind, and when the annual report of the . Department of Agriculture was prescnte:l. country members found an opportunity to discuss to their hearts' content such evergreen topics as the high price of fertilisers, the rabbit pest and the havoc wrought by noxious weedTheir dissertations were listened to by a few sleepy colleagues, the Rouse being very "thin"' lone before Mr. Speaker had occasion to regret his interruption of an honourable member by reason of the tea adjournment. "You'll Be a Minister Yet." Whenever ihe Junior Government Whip gets up to speak, members count on enjoying a laugh sooner or later. Mr W. S. filenn lEangitikei) did not disappoint bis friends this afternoon, when lie spoke his mind on the subject ot fertilisers and the rabbit nuisance. After warming to his subject he found himself being bombarded with interjections. '•There you are! 1 have no less than four Ministers attacking mc at this moment!" he announced during his address. "I take that as a compliment.' "They"]] be making you a Minister yet if you talk like that," was the satirical observation o{ a Labour member. llr. Glenn said it was no matter for joking. For years and years he had been bringing up the matter of the price of fertilisers. It was a bad thing that the manufacture of fertilisers should be in the hands of three firms in Xew Zealand. vet such was the case. The firms were Kenipthorne Prosser, Wright. Steveneon. and the Farmers' Fertiliser Company. Opposition Leader Holland: How is the latter company constituted? llr. Glenn: That is what I don't know. It is a strange thing that quite recently it lias become a flourishing concern. It seems to mc there must be some cohesion between the firms who manufacture fertilisers. Now I'm looking for tin. next kick to come from the Minister of Agriculture. I've been speaking in this j strain for six yea-rs, but I don't see anything being done. What do we find ■ to-day? The Farmers" Fertiliser Company is paying a dividend—which it didn't do before. And a pretty good one. too. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central i : Seven and a-half per cent. "You're a Brilliant Thinker." Mr. Glenn said the price of fertilisers was such a vital matter to the farmer that some concession should be made. The position should be inquired into. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) observed in a tired voice that we wanted a new Government. Mr. Glenn: I don't suggest that, but! Pm speaking on behalf of men who are more interested in this question than the : honourable member for Lvttelton may ' be. "I Mr. Oh, you're a brilliant I thinker! 1 Mr. Glenn: I'm not asking the hon-, ourahle member's opinion. (Laughter), j He went on to say that he wanted a commission—a thorough inqu : ry. Mr. Parry: T asked for that four years ago and didn't get it. | Rabbits and Noxious Weeds. . | Next Mr. Glenn attacked the vexed question of rabbits. He declared that the whole of the centre of the North Island was a prolific breeding ground for the pest. In 1919 there was only one rabbit board in the district between Ruapheu and the sea. To-day there was j a whole string of boards. The Govern-! ment should do more to help these ' hoards by the provision of money for ! fences. Runholders were being ad-' versely affected. Farms that once «arried 28,000 sheep now carried only 3000. I "It's all very well for us to stand < here and come "together." proceeded Mr. Wenn. getting a little mixed. "How many skins do rabbits have in a year?" asked Mr. F. Waite (Clutha) amid laughter. Mr. Glenn concluded by saying a good deal about the ruinous spread of noxious weeds. A declaration by Mr. E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua) that he bad frequently lost' lamb 3 through the depredations of stoats and weasels promptly drew the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. MeLeod) to his feet. The Minister said stoats and weasels had been liberated by his I father on a Wairarapa farm 3n to 401 years ago. when no country was worst! in regard to the rabbit pest. He had j watched the position very carefuly and | was sure he had never' lost a ' lamb! through stoats or weasels. I The Leader of the Opposition: Is your land free from rabbits. Mr. MeLeod: I have not spent five Shillings on destruction of rabits on my Property for 20 years. ' . Hon. McLeod's Poor Investment. The Minister advised members to be cautious about condemning anyone for .setting unduly high profits from fer- ■ tilisers. Tf all the dividend" of; fertiliser companies during the last five .years were calculated they would not j amount to 5/ per ton on the fertilisers ■ sold He had invented *£500 in the Auckland Fertiliser Company 13 years j a.sn. more with the idea of ne'ning the ' industry than of getting profits.' In ! 13 years he sot two dividends of 7£ par! cent, and they would have to pay him j 12 per cent for -ix years before he could ; set even t'.io bank rate on his money. | The only reduction worth while would! he 2o per cent, which would not be nos- ! siWo, pxcent by Government =nbsidy. The Postmister-Oeneral 'Hon. ' W Aosworthv), who was formerly Mmiiter of Agriculture, made a statement review- ' in? the nriop of fertiliser* over a period j °f Tears. This will b e found elsewhere m fhisa issue. j When thp ten ad'ounment «rrived it j N/is evdPTit that eertiin mern'-ers de-' s !red to pont'nne thp debate '.vh>h was adorned till another day.

"Food. Health and Boauty" is the subject of the lecture to be delivered by Professor F. P. Worley at the Grafton Library on Tuesday, August 3, at 8 p.m. The lecturer will deal with the general composition of various types of food, on tie requirements, both in quantity and nature of foods for people under various conditions, also with the dependence of health and vitality on correct dietetic habits, not only on complexion jut also on physical form and vigorous health. The lecture will be illustrated by lantern slides.