OPOSSUM LICENSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 120, 22 April 1931, Page 6

OPOSSUM LICENSES.

APPROPRIATION OF REVENUE.

(By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, April 21. “Don’t you think that is petty larceny?” asked the Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, when the Prime Minister was explaining the Finance Bill to the House of Representatives and reached the clause which appropriates revenue from opossum licenses. This will, it is estimated, yield £4850. . . Mr Forbes retorted that if it was petty larceny the whole House would participate in it and as a full explanation would be given members Mould not be working in the dark. Mr Coates (smilingly): You would stop at nothing. 'Mr Forbes explained that there had been very large expenditure by the Government on the destruction of deer and it was reasonable that the revenue from opossums should be applied to this purpose. Some acclimatisation societies had been doing a certain amount of work in destroying deer and it would be left to the Minister’s discretion to make payments on that account.

Mr W. D. Stewart remarked that the acclimatisation societies felt that a great injustice was being imposed in the withdrawal of the opossum license revenue as they had made commitments.

Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs: They won’t be deprived of it. Mr Stewart expressed satisfaction and hoped that the Minister would exercise a generous spirit.