PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 288, 5 September 1928, Page 13

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

PROGRESS ON BILLS FARMERS AND ARBITRATION GOVERNMENT MEASURE DEBATED Some progress with the business of the session was made by the House of Representatives yesterday. The London and New Zealand Bank Bill was read a third time without debate and passed. The Church of England Empowering Bill was read a second time and referred to the Committee of Selection which will appoint the committee to consider the Bill, hear evidence if necessary, and report on it to the House. The Canterbury Provincial Building Vesting Bill was read a first time and referred to the Lands Committee. Notice was given by the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) of his intention to introduce an amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act. The greater part of the afternoon was devoted to the debate on the report of the Agricultural Department, the continuance of the discussion until 5,30 preventing the Minister. (Hon. O. J. Hawken) from replying, and the report was talked out. _ In the evening the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill and the Public Works Amendment Bill were read the second time. The House rose at midnight.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE ENFORCING THE REGULATIONS CATTLE TICK MENACE EWE MORTALITY PROBLEMS A variety of matters affecting the primary industries of the country were touched on in the House of Representatives yesterday, during the debate on the annual report of the Department of Agriculture. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), referring to the “extraordinary mortality amongst breeding ewes,” said that he himself had lost a number of sheep, and he thought that the matter should be investigated by the Department. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central): Are the sheep dying only where the land has been top-dressed? Mr. Glenn: No. The whole thing is shrouded in mystery. The loss is extremely heavy. Mr. Parry: Is it bad this year? “This is the worst year I have known in the history of sheep breeding,” said Mr. Glenn. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) asked whether the position was as bad in the South Island as it was in the North. Mr. Glenn said ho was not aware of what was happening in the South Island. He trusted the Minister would instruct the Director-General of Agriculture to make the fullest inquiry into the problem, which was causing the farmers a good deal of anxiety. Another matter that was exercising the minds of the man on the land was the spread of cattle tick. Foot and Mouth Disease. Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) said that the general consensus of opinion I among farmers was that no regulations or restrictions were too great if their object was to prevent the introduction of a foreign disease. It would be nothing short of a calamity if foot and mouth disease became established in New Zealand. He expressed concern that the cattle tick was spreading, and stressed the necessity for immediate action. To keep the country as free as possible from infectious | disease should be the aim of the Minis- > ter of Agriculture. He realised that the Minister was fully alive to the importance of placing restrictions on the intro- I dilution of foreign. stock, but he thought > that the introduction of stock from foreign countries should be totally prohibited, and that every care should be taken to see that straw which was grown in infected districts was not used for packing purposes. It would be a very serious matter if foot and mouth disease were introduced in that way, and he understood, it was not impossible. He agreed with Mr. Glenn that the mortality among ewes this year was extremely heavy, and added that the members of the Department could devote their time to no greater cause than investigating the problems confronting the farming community. Mr. E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua) said it had been brought to his notice that cull cows which had been sold for killing purposes were kept by dealers until the season was coming on and then sold in the yards as dairy stock. He knew of a case where a farmer had purchased a cow, which he had sold, the appearance of the animal having been altered by dehorning and the clipping of its tail. He urged that cull cows should be branded with non-removable marks. The Prime Minister: How are you going to get over the case of a man who pays, say, twenty guineas, for a cow and then finds it is a “dud”? Do you think he will brand it as a “dud”? Mr. Ransom: I know there is that difficulty, but I am offering the suggestion in a helpful spirit. It would be a good thing for New Zealand if all the “dud” cows were killed off. r Control of Cattle Dips. Mr. C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga) urged that the Department should take over all cattle dips. The farmers in tick-infested areas hlul enough worries without having to bear the cost of keeping their neighbours’ land clear of the jiest. Mr. Macmillan also urged that assistance should be given in fighting bush-sickness. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr.. H. E. Holland) : What is the remedy? Mr. Macmillan: We find that if the whole of the farms are top-dressed with basic slag, all the calves are reared. Mr. J. C. Rolleston (Waitomo) congratulated the Department on having “come into its own” and expressed appredation that more consideration was being given to research work than hitherto. . ~ Mr. H. S. 8. Kyle (Rieearton) said it was a matter for congratulation that New Zealand had escaped from serious animal diseases. He hoped that there would be no relaxation in the enforcement of the regulations. With regard to the heavy losses among breeding ewes, he thought that a good deal depended upon the care and treatment of .sheep throughout the whole year. Climatic conditions were another factor. which was responsible for the losses in many cases. Warning Bulletins. Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) suggested that the Department should undertake the work of issuing bulletins to primary producers, warning them of what, was ahead in the event of certain developments in connection with diseases affecting stock. It was a function that could be carried out in these days of scientific research. He urged the Department to continue every precaution to prevent the' introduction of foot and mouth disease Into New Zealand. “Our unemployment difficulty would be nothing compared with the first invasion of this dread disease,” declared the member. Mr. M. J. Bavage (Auckland West)

contended that no Department rendered a greater service to New'Zealand, which was dependent on its primary products, than the Agricultural Department. The establishment of the Massey Agricultural College was a tribute to the foresight of the Department. Mr. W. Jones (Marsden) congratulated the Department on the results achieved at the I’urewa experimental farm, but suggested that as full records of the costs of bringing in the land had not been kept, the farm should be leased and a fresh start made on another area of the gum lands. - “I hope that the Department will take no chance with foot and mouth disease, declared Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne), who went on to say that no stock should bo allowed to be imported from countries where the disease was prevalent. Jhe Minister alone was not responsible m the matter: the Government was equally responsible. “I am not going io throw any bouquets at the Department; if I fell like it I would throw some bricks at them.” he added ; ‘‘but I think when it comes to investigating disease among animals the Department fails.” He hoped that on no account would there bo a relaxation of the regulations. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Pntea) commended the work of the Department, and stressed the necessity of everything being done to prevent the introduction of loot and nmufh disease. The report was talked out.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND ALTERING THE FORMULARIES BILL BEFORE HOUSE Passed by the Legislative Council, the Church of England Empowering Bill came on for its second reading in the House of Representatives yesterday. The member in charge of the measure, Mr. W. J. Girling (Wairau) said that as the Bill was to be referred to a committee of selection he would reserve his remarks for a later stage. The Bill asked for power to alter the formularies and the Authorised Version of the Bible, if necessary. It contained ample safeguards. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) expressed the hope that nothing would be agreed to which would enable the Revised Prayer Book to be adopted, and that no Bill would be passed which would create dissension in the Church. Any interference with the recognised form of common prayer was a very serious matter indeed. He suggested that the closest investigation and consideration should be given the Bill. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Paten) considered that the safeguards in the Bill were entirely thorough. The Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) said that a deputation of his constituents had waited on him expressing concern that the Bill empowered the Church to alter in every possible way the recognised formularies and ritual of the Church. This doulbt was raised especially in view of the bequests made to the Church by people in the belief that the doctrines and faith held at the time of the bequests would be adhered to. Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) sajd he also had been approached by a number of people who wanted to know whether the Bill empowered the Church to adopt the Revised Prayer Book which the House of Commons had rejected. Mr. Girling said that there was nothing new in the question of altering the formularies. It, bad been discussed as long as he could remember. The object of the Bill was to safeguard the Church from any alterations that might be made at Home. If, for instance, the Revised Prayer Book had been passed by the House of Commons and adopted by the Church in Great Britain it could have been thrust upon the people of New Zealand whether they liked it or not. In any case, any. alteration effected by the Bill would have to be agreed to by a two-thirds majority of each order before they could be finally adopted by General Synod. Mr. Girling denied that the alterations were proposed as a result of efforts made in the Waikato diocese. The Bishop of Waikato knew nothing of the alterations until he received his notice to attend General Synod. The suggestion that the Bill had been introduced in the interests of one section was quite unfounded. He moved tfie second reading. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Committee of Selection. PRIVATE MEMBERS’ DAYS PRECEDENCE FOR GOVERNMENT BUSINESS On and after to-day Government business will take precedence on Wednesdays for the remainder of the session. When this motion was before the House of Representatives yesterday the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. 11. E. Holland) asked the Prime Minister what he proposed to do regarding local Bills and private members’ Bills now that Wednesdays would be appropriated for Government business. The local Bills, he said, were extremely important, as were• also some of those in the names of private members. The, Prime Minister replied that the position was not affected as far as local Bills were concerned. Opportunity would be given for consideration of the local Bills listed. In regard to private members’ Bills, it seemed that every member wanted to take up all the time with his particular Bills on private members’ days. It would be all right if a day could be set aside ami they were all disposed of at that sitting. Mr. Coates said he would see what could be done in the mutter. The motion was agreed to.