POULTRY BILL PASSED

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21034, 9 December 1933, Page 16

POULTRY BILL PASSED

# Discussion in the Upper House THREE AMENDMENTS

(I'RESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 8. Moving the second reading of the Poultry Runs Registration Bill in the Legislative Council to-day, the Hon. R. Masters said the bill gave poultry men power to organise their own industry. At present the industry had no effective organisation, and seemed to be lagging behind other primary industries. Owing to the lack of organisation, opportunities for developing overseas markets were being lost. The Hon. D. Buddo said he could not see any objection to the bill. The poultry industry was well worthy of being fostered. The Hon. C. J. Carrington said all those with 50 birds or less should be exempted from the payment of the registration fee, as the present exemption of 25 birds might cause hardship. The Hon. M. Fagan said it was essential that all primary industries should be organised. If the exemption were raised, many of those who would benefit from the bill would not be liable for fees. The Hon. Sir James Allen said the bill provided for the payment of a subsidy on the export of eggs, and as a subsidy would encourage export, he thought there should' be some safeguard for internal consumers.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan contended that the policy of subsidising exports should be controlled by the Government.

The bill was read a second time.

In committee, on the motion of Mr Masters, an amendment was adopted giving the Minister for Agriculture instead of the New Zealand Poultry Board the right to grant exemptions from fees. By another Government amendment the reimbursement of expenses incurred by the New Zealand Poultry Association in organising the industry before the commencement of the act was limited to £SOO. Sir James Allen moved that subsidies be paid on the export of eggs only with the approval of the Minister for Agriculture. Mr Masters accepted the amendment, which was adopted. The bill was put through the remaining stages and passed. This'evening the House of Representatives agreed to the amendments made by the Legislative Council.