POOR RECEPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 266, 9 November 1932, Page 10

POOR RECEPTION.

POULTRY CONTROL BILL. HOSTIUTY TO REGISTRATION. "HAtRA'SSING HOUSEHOLDERS." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) '' WELLINGTON, this day. A stormy passage is ahead of the Government measure .providing for the registration of poultry -keepers, judging by the degree of hostility accorded the Poultry Amendment Bill upon its introduction in the House yesterday. Members On all sides raised objections, principally on the ground that the ordinary householder with a few birds would have-to be registered for-the benefit of commercial , egg producers. After an hour of lively discussion the bill was read.' a second time, pro forma, and -referred to the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee.

The attack on the proposals was led' by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Government, Riccarton), who said that iinder the provisions even the poor woman and the boy with a few- bantams would ihave to register. He did not know whether the owners of ducks and geese were affected! The Minister would be ill-advised to proceed with the measure. Mr. Kyle said Hie knew that certain <people had obtained £400 from-the Government to tour the country in order toi stampede the public, into supporting the bill. Mr. J. 'A, Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn) eaid , the bill would interfere with a lot of, people who kept a few fowls on domestic refuse and supplemented "their earnings by that means. There were quite enough inspectors already in. the and the present measure looked as though it was an attempt to harass householders and divert business $6 the poultry farmers. It would have a harsh effect on many residents of Point Chevalier. With the number of boards and registration provisions in existence the next move could conceivably be one for the introduction of the Tomcats .Registration Bill. (Laughter.) According to Mr. J. A. Nash (Government, Palmerston) the poultry-keepers lhad been awaiting , the bill for many years,- and" he ttfought it would be in keeping with, the washes of poultry farmers *o allow the Minister to explain the provisions. "Worst Hopes Realised." - **It seems that our worst- hopes ihave been realised," commented Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour, Auckland West). "It looks as if the Government at last is going to make an attack on tihe fowlhouse." After, explaining the details of the biU, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Macmillan, said evidence on the measure would be heard before the Select Committee. ' He raised a laugh by saying the bill did not apply to poultry other than liens and did not apply to chickens under the age of six montiis. He rihided members who were getting "protection irom , other control boards with wishing to prevent poultry farmers deriving the same benefits for themselves. . ■"Obviously the Government does not intend to end the session before Christmas/' said Mr. A. M. Samuel , (Government, Thames). "After listening to an explanation of the bill, it seems that a joke has beeh: inflicted on tihe House. The bill would raise protests from one

end of the Dominion to the other, and the Minister would be well advised to withdraw it. "I welcome the introduction of the bill, mot for what it contains, but for what it may contain by the time 1+ passes through this Chamber," said Mr. A. Harris (Government, Waitemata), who said he would like to see it contain a proposal to give the poultry-keepers cheap fowl wheat. By doing that the Minister would be taking advantage of an admirable opportunity to assist the poultry-keepers. . Need for Organisation.. Mr. R. W. Hawke (Government, Kaiapoi) said that there were about 156,000 people in New Zealand who kept poultry. The majority of ■tihem. sold eggs ihapihazardly. "When there came a-time, of oveiwprodTtction there was a need tor organisation'. He was supporting the bill because it provided for the organisation of the industry. The machinery which would be set up would enable an estimate to be prepared of the egg pro-, duction and would enable the export of eggs to be-so organised that thousands more would...be sent away. ;The idea behind the : biH-wa3 to organise production and stabilise prices. By organisation and export much more than the amount paid in registration fees- would be brought back to the Dominion. The small man stood to benefit a great deal more than the big man who was exporting at the present time. Mr. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central),:! Does the bill apply to the internal or t"he export trade*... ' ' Mr. Hawke: Yes. It provides for improved- : production and better marketing in England and better marketing in New ■■ Zealand. • . • ■ ~'Mx;teyle:; e aid that of 166,000 people who kept poultry in! New Zealand only 150 to. 175 were deriving a living from it. , few ■ exporters, had got together to make a. Iboard and create jobs for themselves. at the expense of the rest of. the- /poultry-keepers. It was a mistake to go on with the bill, and he urgedvthe Minister to withdraw it. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East)- said that his electorate was opposed to the measure. If the poultry farmers, wanted a board they were entitled to it, but they were not entitled, to "interfere with people who kept a few fowls., ... Mr.; J.' McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton) said the only object of the was to make eggs scarce in the Dominion and thus force the price up to tihe New .Zealand consumer. He urged that_ the. bill not be rushed through, as the objects of some of the people behind it were distinctly greedy.