The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1932. A POULTRY BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1932. A POULTRY BILL.

A Wellington correspondent states that . if the Government lias its way with I the Poultry Act Amendment Bill, then a lion may not lay an egg without Scale sanction. Since the Minuter ofAgricuiAare to, be taking the measure seriously, however, then the Bill becomes subject to objection, •equijly from a large proportion of poultry-owners, from the trading community and th e consuming Public. Tlie Bill provides for the annual registration of poultry runs, and prescribes .faeis which shall be paid to a board by owners of hens and ducks. |in excess of twelve head, producing i eggs for sale. These provisions are a totally unwarranted interference with private rights, the association contends. Poultry runs are at present fully regulated under the Poultry Act, 1924, and the registration of runs as provided for in the present Bill is nothing moro or less than a tax, for the benefit of a small class, Poultryowners who have nothing to gain from the scheme, and who have no desire' for it, will be compelled to provide, not only the -expenses of n v useless board, and the- salaries of its servants, but also a straight-out subsidy to exporters, as provided in the Bill. Or. tire figures of the 1926 census, which was the last poultry census taken, the proposed annual registration fees would secure a revenue of more than £12,800 per annum from fowl-run owners alone, which means that that sum of money would be added to their costs of production. Exporters who are not satisfied with their export prices will then subsidise themselves out of this fund'. This is -a patently socialistic scheme. A group of disgruntled exporters is seeking to share by compulsion in the profits of their competitors and of those who supply only the* local market. The plan is a dii*ect uncouragement to uneconomic production and unsound marketing. Authority is fought to exercise the powers contained in the Poultry Act, 1924, for the regulation, 'among other j things, of the marketing, not only of eggs but also of poultry, and the grading and packing of eggs for both horhe consumption and export. The fact tha*t 110 regulations, have been issued- under this-Act in -the eicrht yeti.irs since it was passed shows that spell regulations are neither necessary nor desirable. Yet the present Bill seeks to create *a new Government Department, appoint more inspectors to harass poultry-owners, and impose unwarranted restrictions on marketing.