PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1934, Page 15

PARLIAMENT

TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. today.

The Council went into committee on the Alsatian Dog Bill.' .

Tho Hon. W. Perry said that he had made certain inquiries which had led him to the conclusion that the Alsatian dog was not the ferocious dog which Mr. Carrington would make it.

Mr. Perry said that as tho result of breeding in Germany, the dog> had become a very useful animal which was used as a sheep dog and a tracker of criminals. The dog had played an important part in tho war, and was now being used to guide tho blind. It was clear that the dogs were not altogether the enemy of mankind, but were. a friend of mankind so long as they were kept under proper control. The Bill went too far. Its provision made for the extermination of the dog, and it would be better if the measure was confined to the control of the Alsatian. There was no similar legislation in any other part of the world. He . suggested that tho proper course would be to bring in amendments to tho Dogs Registration' Act. It might be laid down that no person should own an Alsatian dog unless ho' was a member of a kennel club, and was certified by the secretary of a club that he was a fit person to own a dog. The dog was being blamed for the faults of his owner. He proposed to vote against tho Bill as it stood. The Hon. D. Buddo said that the Committee which had considered the Bill had spent two days hearing evidence, and two witnesses had admitted that their dogs had bitten them. There n-cre innumerable instances of people being attacked by Alsatian dogs, which were also a- menace to stock. The Western Australian legislation was also prohibitory. . ■ , Mr. Buddo said he was thoroughly convinced that; the Alsatian, was a menace to children. There was no need .for additional ( sheep dogs in the Dominion, as there was already an abundance. Tho sponsor of the Bill,, the Hon. C. J. Carrington said: that those who were endeavouring to protect women and children against the dogs were up against a stiff proposition. The late. Sir Thomas Mackenzie had stated that the greatest obstacle to getting legislation against the dogs was the wealth and influence of the owners and breeders.., ■'~'/..'

(Proceeding.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Eeprescntatives mot at 2.30 p.m. today. .