THE ESTIMATES.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 79, 30 September 1905, Page 2

THE ESTIMATES.

CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSE. The Consolidated Estimates were considered by the House last night. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. Tho Department of Agriculture total vote £112,770, was first taken. Tho Leader of the Opposition spoke of the grading of flax, and complained that there was too much handling necessitated and too much expense placed on flax exporters by the Government's system. Mr. Buchanan drew attention to the blight attacking the potatoes of the colony. The Biological Department was no doubt doing goo,d work, bub the Biologist was prescribing one treatment —the Bordeaux mixture— for all the various blights. He (Mr. Buchanan) knew of cases in which farmers had spent a good deal- of money on spraying M-ith this mixture regardless ,of the species of blight attacking the plants. _ Sir Win. Russell asked the Minister whether he could not import the ladybird, which was tho natural enemy of the codlm moth. Ihe Minister bad said that the use of the natural enemy of tho moth was still in the experimental stage, but it had. proved to be most satisfactory in California, after only one year's trial. Mr. Massey siid that ho honestly believed that were it not for the moth the colony would be able to export hundreds of thousands of lons of apples every Tlio Minister for Agriculture said that tho Government had been in communication with tho Californian authorities, and had boon informed that the work of rearing the ladybird was difficult and expensive. It was hoped that ten or a dozen colonies of ladybirds would be secured for New Zealand at a cost of £1000. Mr. Harding did not think the Government realised tho importance of the fruit industry t6 tho colony. Mr. Kirkbride urged that the fruitcanning industry should be assisted. ■ A long discussion ensued on the subjects raised, and eventually Mr. Buchanan complained that tho Government was not doing sufficient to keep the colony clear of anthrax, and was also not taking proper steps to cope with the rabbit- pesfc. The undue prevalence of Inspectors was discussed by Mr. Hawkins, who said that there were over 100 Inspectors in the Department's omploy. This continual appointment of Inspectors was becoming a by-word throughout tho colony. He asked for information about, the fruit-pressiving expert. "Experts" continued to arouse curiosity on tho part of members, and Mr. Remington asked for some news about the bee expert. Tho honey industry, he admitted, deserved and required cultivation, and he wanted to know if tho beeexpert was doing anything. The bee expert, said the Minister, has only boan appointed for six months, and had been travelling through the colony giving instruction to bee farmers. Mr. Dnthie wanted to know why the salaries of the poultry oxperts had been increased. Tho poultry branch of tho Department, ho pointed out, cost £5000, tind tho export of poultry sinco the Government took up the industry was less than £5000. The poultry of the colony had not been improved one iota. Mr. Massey again introduced tho question of flax, and the oxcessive handling of it in connection with grading. Ho also complained of the Department's attitude | in connection with tlio # payment of corn- j pensation for the slaughter of diseased stock. He quoted, a' letter from a, constituent who said that tho Department, having slaughtered certain animals, refused to pay compensation on the ground that the animals had no market value, The Minister was understood to say thnt when the slaughtered animal was only' slightly diseased compensation was paid, but when badly diseased no compensation was paid. Mr. Herdman asked whether Inspectors of Stock had to pass an examination. He understood there were many appointments made without examination. Tho Minister said the Inspectors were instructed by tho Chief Government Veterinarian, and that there had been no complaints. Mr. Alison asked what were the Government's intentions with regard to the fruit canning ' industry. Although this colony could grow fruit as fino as any in the world, - the importations of canned and preserved fruits from other countries was valued at from £140,000 to £150,0u0 a year. At present there was no means of disposing of the surplus fruit. Was tho Government prepared to establish fruit canning plants, or, failing that, to assist scttlere? The Minister aaid the Government was prepared to assist fruit growers in a reasonable way, but it was no use the Government doing anything if the settlers stood, lound and did notning. The growers would have to help themselves, and follow the system of co-dpcrativo dairy factories. If they got together, and tsjiw what they could do, and explained their intentions to the 'Government, the Government would know what action to take. The Government would be prepared to lend money on shares ill a co-opcrativo fruit preserving concern. Tho Leader of the Opposition pointed out that there was no provision for thus lending money, and ho hoped legislation would bo introduced to enable the Minister to do what ho had suggested. After tho supper adjournment only 13 members put in an appearance, the remaining 67 boing apparently satisfied to let tho proceedings go on without them. To this gaping array of empty benches, the sparse occupants of whom were nearly all deep in newspapers, tho Minister spoke in an inaudible voice about flax. Ten of those present were members of the Opposition. A variety of subjects wero discussed with a minimum of interest, and tho discussion once more reverted to fruit canning. Tho Minister, replying to members who had urged that moro experts should be appointed, said it was too cany to secure a high-salaried Californian expert. They had to get the industry into order first. The Government intended to find out in what distiicls tho best fruit could bo grown ' Aflsr further discussion a motion by Mr. Hawkins to reduce the vote by £1 as an indication that the duty shou.d be taken off Australian grapes was lost by 31 votes to 19, and tho Salaries vote (£54,085) passed unaltered. Ab Miscellaneous services (£58,685) a, sciies of topics wero briefly discussed, tho Minister contributing large quantitcs of remarks tmudible in the Press Gallery. Mr. Vile moved to reduce tho item "Establishment of Dairy Schools, £1000," as an indication that the work of establishment should be begun at once. Mr. Wilford urged that a Dairy Scliool should bo started in conjunction with tho Veterinary Laboiatory ut AVallaceviUc. Ho claimed that tlm sito was eminently suitable on account of itß proximity to Wellington, and the convenience of having the Veterinary staff on tho Bpot. The Government had fifty spare acres of land that it could sell, and tho proceeds could go towards tho erection of the school. Mr. Wood put in a strong counter-plea in favour of Palmcr&ton Nbrth as the &ito of a Dairy School, as that town was, in his opinion, tho centre of the dairying industry. A third contestant entered the lists

in tho person of Mr. Field, who said everybody was, or ought to be, agreed that' the ideal spot was Lovin. "Might I put in a plea for a very important district — the Wairarapa?" — said Mr. Buchanan, and in his turn he extolled that locality as the .ideal one. Banks' Peninsula next loomed up as a candidate for selection, Mr. Laurenson warmly extolling that district as_ a deserving one, inasmuch, as the dairying industry was established there long before it was under way in the North Island. Mr. VUb's motion was lost by 32 votes to 23. A motion by Mr. Ell to reduce the vote by £1 as an indication that the import duty on potatoes should be removed was lost by 37 to 9. Tho vote passed unaltered. \ POLICE DEPARTMENT. Tho total vote for this Department was £133,206. Tho Minister for Justice, in answer to tho Leader of the Opposition, was understood to say that he would lay the cvidenco taken before the Police Commission on tho table — probably within a week. Mr, Lang urged tne necessity of appointing more J.P.s in outlying country districts. Mj. T. Mackenzie brought under the notice of the Minister tho advisability of transferring country constables more frequently than ia the practice at present. Mr. Fisher ,asked .the Minister if in regard to house allowances he would discriminato between the different districts. The Minister, replying to these and other questions, Said that Justices wero appointed* as occasion arose. As to transfers, ho thought constables should not take any active interest in politicshe knew nothing about the politics ol men in the Foree — and transfers wero largely a matter of suitability. Speaking generally, tho Minister said thero were several men in the Force of long service who wanted to know why tney were not made sergeants. The reason was that they wore not qualified. They were very good men, honest, straightforward, and upright, but they wanted more than that — they wanted brains. Strong complaint was mado by the Leader of the Opposition and other members aa'to .a- certain constable having been retired from the Force without any reason being assigned, and Mr. Moss urged that the opinion prevailed that a policeman was valued in proportion .to the extent to which he made himself officious. After further debate of an uninteresting nature the total vote passed unaltered. VALUATION DEPARTMENT. Total vote, £29,235. ' Mr. Kirkbride moved that the item "Assessment Court expenses, £450," be reduced by £1 as an indication that one member of the Assessment Court should be appointed by the local authority in any case in which the local authority is interested.' A .thin House listened weaiily to the arguments for and against this proposal. At 1.35 a.m. there were only fourteen members present, and those who were there seemed to tako not the slightest interest in the proceedings. Even Hanpard was taking a rest, and yard after yard of- empty benches mutely appealed against the utter absurdity of sitting to that hour in tho morning. No one seemed to worry much over a statement made by the Minister in charge of the Valuation Department (Hon. C. H. Mills) that ho wag making enquiries about something or other, and dullness reigned absolutely supremo. Mr. Kiikbride'a amendment was lost by 25 to 18, and the vote passed unaltered. ■ SCENERY PRESERVATION. IThe total voto for this Department, £25,000, was briefly ..debated, and passed without alteration. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS.' The total vote for this Department was £70U0. It passed without comment. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. Total vote £107,514. Thero was no quorum present while this class was under review at 2.15 a.m. No interest was taken in tho proceedings, ana the House gladly reported progress. This- finished tho Consolidated Estimates, and a tired Houso gladly adjourned.