ALSATIAN DOG BILL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 12

ALSATIAN DOG BILL

* MEASURE INTRODUCED IN UPPER HOUSE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE CONTINUED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 19. When the Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., the Alsatian Dog Bill was introduced by the Hon. C. J. Carrington, and read a first time. The Hon. J. A. McCullough asked the leader of the Council (the Hon. D. Wilson) whether the Government’s attention had been drawn to the report of the Associated Motorists’ Petrol Company, that preference shareholders had been paid 10 per cent., and ordinary shareholders 150 per cent., and if the Government would take steps to deal with unreasonable profits.

Mr Wilson said the Government was aware of the position. It had fixed the prices of petrol, and was anxious to see that petrol was available to the public at the lowest possible price. Resuming the Address-in-Reply debate the Hon. B. C. Robbins discussed the defence of New Zealand, and said he was satisfied that everything possible was being done, and would be done if the necessity arose. He said there was a great need for an overhaul of the licensing laws. He had been a prohibitionist all his life; but had come to the conclusion that prohibition could not be secured in New Zealand, and that the only way to correct the licensing evils was for the State to take control. Mr Carrington said that agricultural prosperity was the basis of all prosperity in New Zealand, as the cowyai’d was as essential to town dwellers as to farmers. Farmers should be relieved of some costs so that the primary industries could produce more and restore the overseas funds. As the country districts 'contributed the greatest proportion of the national wealth, they should have the greatest say in the Government. To give them that,. the country auota should be extended, or a system of plural voting, based on the amount of taxation paid by the voter, should be introduced. The Council adjourned at 5.5 p.m.