FOWLS REGISTRATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1933, Page 7

FOWLS REGISTRATION

HOUSE PASSES BILL MINISTERIAL CLAIMS [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, March 9. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. Tho Education Amendment Bill was put through Committee, with the amendments introduced by the Prime Minister, and was reported to the House. Mr. Fraser moved that the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering the clause dealing with the question of the imposition of fines on school teachers. He expressed the opinion that this aspect of the Bill required further and more earnest consideration. I His motion was defeated by 42 to 22, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The Waitangi Endowment Bill, Local Legislation Bill, and Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill,, were put through the remaining stages and

passed. During the Committee stage of the Government Railways Amendment Bill, Labour members endeavoured to have the measure amended in such a way that the Government’s rights would be restricted to leasing (and not selling) unprofitable or uncompleted lines. Mr. Barnard moved amendments to this effect, but they were rejected by 38 to 23. Mr. Barnard then moved that any contract made with a private company should not become operative until it was ratified by Parliament. This was defeated by 37 to 25. Speaking on the third reading, the Leader of the Opposition expressed

the opinion that the Government had taken altogether too wide powers under the bill. If put fully into effect, they would prove disastrous to the country.

Mr. Barnard expressed regret that the House had not agreed to the amenments moved in committee. He contended that the Government had power under the bill, as it stood, to complete contracts with private companies without any reference to Parliament. Mr. Forbes gave an assurance that there was no intention of not consulting Parliament in regard to any developments that might eventuate under the bill. He could not say that any private company actually would desire to take over one of the unprofitable of uncompleted lines, but the bill would give power for opening negotiations with such company if it was formed. It would then be possible to carry negotiations to an advanced stage, after which the proposition could be discussed by Parliament. The Bill was read a third time and passed. Moving the committal of the Poultry 1 Amendment Bill, Mr. Macmillan said, that advices from Tooley Street indicated a crucial point had been reached so far as the possibility of New Zealand trade in eggs was concerned. It would seem to be advisable to strike while the iron was hot. There had been a considerable reduction in the number of eggs sent to the Old Country by other exporting centres, and the occasion was auspicious for New Zealand to take advantage of opportunity to establish her egg exporting industry on a firm basis. It was at present hampered by lack of organisation to take charge of the selling end of the business. The Alinister said that an amendment would be introduced to increase from twelve to twenty-five, the size of the flocks which would be exempted from the necessity to register, and to pay registration fee of 2/6. This would mean that an additional 62,710 flocks (or 40.66 per cent, of the total number of flocks) would be entitled to exemption. The total per centage of flocks exempted would be 76.40. By extending exemption to flocks of twenty-five, a total of 1,445,584 fowls out of 3,308,401 in the Dominion would • be exempt. There had been requests to extend the exemption to flocks of fifty, but this would mean leaving out another 20 per cent, of flocks, and only 4 per cent, would be subject to registration. The Minister then gave some figures relating to the estimates of revenue from the registration. He said that when the exemption figure had stood at twelve, it had been anticipated that registration fees would have totalled £10,934, and net revenue, allo'wing for administration and other costs, would have been £7OOO. By extending the exemption to twenty-five, the revenue in the hands of the Board, for the purpose of . subsidising export, would’be reduced to £4OOO. If exemption had been extended to fifty, the potential revenue would have been reduced to £729. The House adjourned at 5.30. CHAIRMAN’S PROTEST.

The debate on the Poultry Amendment Bill was continued when the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Air. Savage-said that from the beginning to the end the Government’s method of handling the bill had been characterised by hesitating and vaccilation. He believed there was a majority in the House, who desired the bill to be passed, in useful form, if not in its present terms.

“I am in an invidious position,” said Mr. Kyle, “and I shall have to consider whether I am going to remain Chairman of the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee. 1 believe I brought in a report in sympathy with the evidence concerning the bill, but I am not going to play in the outfield all day and every day. Air. Kyle said the undertaking had been given yesterday that if the House got through a certain amount of legislation, members would be able to return to their homes. Certain members who had supported him on the Select Committee had gone home. They had had no idea the bill was coming on. “I say fair play is bonny play,” he declared. “If the Government were loyal to me, and to other members, it should have let the bill remain over till next session. I intend to consider my position if this bill goes through. t would advise, the Government to withdraw it, and get. the parties together during the recess.” Air. Kylo protested against the Government going on with the bill after the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee had reported unfavourably on it.

In Committee on the bill, Air. Kyle moved that before the act should come into operation, a poll should be taken of all poultry producers by the Department of Agriculture. This was ruled out of order on the ground that it would involve expenditure of public money.

Mr. Kyle then moved that all poultry producers, and not merely the New

Zealand Poultry Association should nominate members of the Poultry Board.

This was defeated on the voices. Mr. Armstrong moved that the poll should be taken by the New Zealand Poultry Association before the Act should come into operation. This was defeated on the voices. An amendment submitted by the Minister, extending exempted flocks to twenty-five, was adopted. The Bill was reported to the House. Mr Kyle moved that the bill be recommitted with the object of determining whether exemption from registration should be extended to flocks of fifty fowls. The motion was defeated by 33 to 17. The bill was read a third time and passed. The House adopted the amendments to the Finance Bill, after the Minister of Finance had agreed to increase the rebate in respect of taxation on electrically driven vehicles still further. An amendment increasing the rebate from 50 per cent, to 60 per cent, was adopted. The House rose at 12.12 p.m. REJECTED BY COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, March 10. The Legislative Council met at 10 a.m.

The Council agreed to the amendments to the Finance Bill (No. 4) made last night by the House of Representatives. Moving the second reading of the Poultry Amendment Bill, Mr Masters said the measure was desired by the 'poultry people, who wished to place the industry on a better footing. The Bill followed the lines of the legislation now affecting dairy, meat and honey industries. Sii* F. D. Bell: Tell us why the Bill is urgent. Mr Master's said the poultry indus-

try was anxious to organise in order to bring about a greater return for its products. Mr Hanan said the Council should have the opportunity to investigate the Bill. At a time when the country was being agitated by big problems, the Council would not be justified in passing the Bill as a matter of urgency without hearing evidence. It seemed that the measure was another attempt at centralised and bureaucratic Government, and that Parliament was delegating more of its powers to outside Boards. Because the Lower House had passed the Bill, there was no reason why the Council should simply become a registering machine.

Mr Carrington said that after the passage of a similar Bill in Canada, the poultry industry had received an enormous benefit, and Canada had become an exporter of eggs instead of an importer.

Sir F. D. Bell moved the adjournment of the debate on the grounds that the Council should have an opportunity of hearing the evidence of

those connected with the industry. Evidence had been taken by a committee of the Lower House, and it had presented an unfavourable report. In view of that fact, it was only reasonable that the Council should have the opportunity of hearing the evidence ■which had convinced the Lower House Committeemen. Mr Masters said the poultry people desired the passage of the Bill during the present session, in order that they could take advantage of next year’s export season, and it was not right they should be debarred at a time like the present from organising the industry to the best advantage. Sir F. D. Bell’s motion was carried by seven votes to five, thereby preventing the passage of the Bill this session. The division list was: For the motion: Bell, Hanan, McIntyre, Snodgrass, Stevenson. Trevithick, Collins. Against: Carrington, Fagan, Smith, Masters, Buddo. The Council adjourned at 11.15, until Ihp ringing of the bells. TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. WELLINGTON, March 10. The House of Representatives met at 10 a.m. The Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of Mr. Coleman, drew attention to the report that the Government had threatened to put a receiver in charge of the finances of the Wairoa County Council, and he asked -whether the Minister of Finance would stay his hand until such time as representations could be fully made by the Member for the district, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Wairoa County Council.

Mr. Coates said he understood that the matter was of long standing. To be quite frank, he was not aware of the exact details, but he would consult the Minister of Internal Affairs, and ascertain whether effect could be given to Mr. Holland’s request. The House proceeded to deal, with the Christchurch City Reserve Amendment Bill, and Christchurch Tramway District Amendment Bill, in commit tee.

The House of Representatives passed the Christchurch City Reserves Amendment Bill and the Christchurch Tramway District Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 12.23 p.m. until the ringing of the bells.

EXPORT OF SILVER COINAGE

WELLINGTON, Alarch 9.

Amendments to the Finance Bill (No. 4) were introduced in the House of Representatives to-night. One amendment gives retrospective effect to the clause in the measure giving the Government power to seize silver which an5 r person attempts to export from the country. Air. Coates said that under the legislation passed in 1931, only silver actually exported could be seized. In practice, however, it had been found that this provision was rendered practically inoperative in that in all cases, the silver was seized when an attempt, was being made to export it. In view of this, it had been found necessary to make the new powers of seizure retrospective. If this were not done claims might be lodged against the Crown for the recovery of silver seized prior to the passing of this year’s Bill. As it was, one claim was actually pending. The Government did not see why it should have to pay for the silver which had been seized, and as it was really a legal question whether the Government was liable or not, it had been decided to remove all doubt.

Mr. Wright asked whether the exportation of silver was giving the Government serious concern, and whether there was any truth in (he statement that over £lO,OOO worth had been sent out of the country. Mr. Coates replied' that the Government was concerned, for although it did not know just how much silver had been exported it was a. fact that very much more than the amount mentioned by Mr. Wright had been

taken out of the country. Tire banks, in fact, were becoming rather short of silver.

Mr. Wright: Is it going io England? Mr. Coates: Yes. Mr. Mason: But Australian silver takes its place?

Mr. Coates: It is taking its place to some extent but we hope to clear that up by establishing our own coinage. It. must be remembered that all silver taken out of the country means an extra 25 per cent, to those exporting it.

The provisions of the Rent Restriction Act are extended from August 31 to October 31 by the new clause of the Bill. Mr. Coates explained that the extension had been considered advisable in view of the possibility that Parliament might not meet before the legislation expired.

Largely as the result of the representations made by the Christchurch Tramway Board', the rebate in respect of taxation imposed this week on electrically driven vehicles is increased from 40 per cent, to 50 per cent. Explaining another amendment, Mr. Coates said it was designed to give effect to the promise that the total revenue from electrically-driven vehicles would be paid into the Main Highways Account. This meant, in other words, that the rebate, being allowed in respect of those vehicles, would comp off the portion of the revenue which, would otherwise have been payable into the Consolidated Fund.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

“INSULT TO TEACHERS.”

WELLINGTON, March 9. The Legislative Council resumed at 2.30 p.m. Amendments made to the Small Farms Bill were agreed to, and the

Council rose till 7.30. The Council resumed at 7.30: The Waitangi Endowment Bill, and the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, were passed without debate. Moving tho second reading of the Education Amendment Bill, Mr. Masters said provisions for the establishment of intermediate schools was a step in the right direction, as it was at these schools, a child’s aptitude could be best discovered. It was the intention to establish these schools throughout the Dominion as oppor-

tunities permitted. The clause providing for the punishment of teachers was simply placing teachers on the same footing as the rest of the Civil Service. The Bill provided for the enrolment of children at the beginning of the term in which they attained the age-of six, and power was taken compulsorily to enrol subnormal children in special classes. There had been criticism of the clause aiming at synchronisation of holidays of primary and secondary schools on the ground' that it was tending towards centralisation, but there was no desire to fix the same holidays for the whole of the Dominion, and the Department would wjork ,in with the wishes of the different Boards.

Mr. Mclntyre said he regretted that more opportunity had not been given for consideration of the Bill, which contained several important principles. . However, he wished to compliment the Minister on the able way he

had administered the Department. He considered the duties of Director of Education should be confined to educational matters only, and that he should have no power to deal with expenditure. * Provisions in the Bill giving power to suspend or fine teachers, was an insult to the profession, and it would have been better if the Minister had taken powers to deal with teachers, who were spreading Communistic literature.

Mr. Carrington urged that education in intermediate schools should be given a greater agricultural bias. Air. Masters, in reply, said if discip-

linary powers in the Bill were an insult. to the profession, then the whole of the Civil Service was insulted, because they were on the same footing. He had no power to deal with those having Communistic tendencies, but the Boards which employed them might be able to do something. The Bill was put through all stages and passed without further debateThe local Legislation Bill and the Government Railway Amendment Bill were passed without debate. The Council rose at 10.55 until ten to-morrow morning.