Questions in the House and Replies

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 111, 21 September 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

Questions in the House and Replies

POINTS BY MR SEXTON

CONDEMNED STOCK PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION Prior to the rising of the House, the member for Franklin, Mr A. G. A. Sexton, addressed a number of questions to Ministers, the following replies having been received: — Mr Sexton asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he would investigate the anomalies now existing in regard to the payment of compensation for stock condemned for disease? Mr Sexton said: The problem seems to have become more acute with the inauguration of co-operative cull-cow drives where the cows are driven straight to the freezing-works and killed there Instead of passing through the saleyards and possibly infecting healthy cattle. The rates differ as between cattle condemned on the farm, in the sale-yards, and at the works stock happen to be condemned. Minister’s Reply The Hon. W. Lee Martin replied: according to the Act under which the Consideration has to be given to the fact that a large percentage of the cull cows sent to freezing-works ore not affected with disease for which compensation is allowed. If. however, a cull cow is condemned on slaughter at the works for a scheduled disease there is no evidence to indicate that the amount of compensation payao'ie materially differs from that which would have been paid if the animal had been condemned on the farm coin tlie saleyards under the provisions of the Stock Act. Mr Sexton asked the Minister of Education: Whether he will make a siatement as to the policy and practice of the Chiicl Welfare Department in regard to sending young persons who come under its control into country districts to work on farms under some form of license? Mr Sexton said many of these young persons come under the control of the Department by reason of some delinquency, and there is considerable disquietude in country districts owing to (1) 11m unsatisfactory past of many of these persons, (2) the practically total lack of police protection in the districts, (3) the fact that women and children have frequently to he left alone in isolated farmhouses, and (4) the tact that the police are apparently not allowed 1o exercise any control ewer these persons.

The Hon. P. Fraser replied: The Department's policy is not to segregate children in institutions, hut to arrange l'or them to lie absorbed into the community as ordinary members of society. By far the greater proportion of delinquents come under the control of the Department through poor home conditions and lack of parental control. but usually they quickly respond to remedial measures. Before a boy is placed in employment on a farm his suitability for this type of work is carefully considered and the prospective employer acquainted orally by the supervising Child Welfare Officer of any anti-social habits or tendencies and his active co-operation enlisted in training tiie boy to be a useful and law-abiding citizen. As the Child Welfare Officer keeps in close touch with the. boy and the employer, it is not considered either desirable or necessary tha't the police should be required to supervise these young people. A Further Question Hr Sexton asked the Minister of Justice: Whether it is possible for him to draw the attention of Magistrates to fhe undesirability of encouraging offenders who come before them to go to the rural areas, it being held out to such offenders that sentence will lie suspended on condition that they leave the cities and towns and go into Ihe rural areas? Mr Sexton said that the reasons against this procedure arc set out in his question addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Educa--1 ion. The Hon. IT. G. R. Mason replied: It is not tiie practice to issue directions 1o Magistrates in matters relating to the exercise of their judicial discre-

tion. lam advised that the procedure complained of is not widely or generally adopted but that each case is dealt with upon its particular merits, and' only where the Courts consider it would facilitate the rehabilitation of the offender and be in the general interests of the community is an order to take up work in the country made.