AUCKLAND PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7403, 11 August 1885, Page 5

AUCKLAND PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Tub Parliamentary Union met kit evening, Mr. P. A. Philips (Speaker) in the chair. There was a large attendance, owing to an impression that there would be a division on the Representation Bill, and a very close one. As the Government had intimated they would make a Ministerial question of the passage of the Bill, affirming the principle of large electorates, there was a mild excitement, and the elements of a Parliamentary

crisis,

INSECT PESTi*. —APPOINTMENT OF A GOVERN

MKNT ENTOMOLOGIST

The hon. member for Napier (Dr. Murray Moore) moved " That a skilled entomologist | bo appointed for tho North Island of New Zealand by the Go\ T ernment, for the purpose of preventing, checking, and exterminating the insect pests now becoming bo serious an injury to agricultural and pastoral lauds." He commenced by asserting that the agricultural and pastoral reserves of the colony were the most staple and most necessary elements of its prosperity, and that the motion now introduced, as it was calculated to free these elements from a serious drawback. ought to enlist the support of hon. members, irrespective of political differences. The grass, the fruit trees, and the vines of tho province of Auckland aru being attacked by millions of minute but voracious enemies, and three of these—the codlin grub, the grass grub (Odontria), and the phylloxera vastatrix—were exhibited upon the table of the House. Other pests existing in the North Island, whose warm, equable climate (average annual temperature, 57 degrees) is highly favourable to the rapid growth of all insect life, are the scale insccts (white scale, or leery a Purchaai, leaf-scale, musclescale), the borers, the slugworm or larva of the sawfly, and the imported European snail. But the moat prolific and insidious of all are the 30 or more species of aphid«e, of which there have been imported into the colony the aphis of the orange, the vine, the cabbage, the turnip, the apple, and the rose. One single female aphis will pass through ten generations in one summer, and produce, it is calculated, a cjuintillion of descendants ! All the insects named pass through the three stages of— (1) Larva, or caterpillar ; (2) pupa, or chrysalis ; (3) imago, or perfect moth, beetle, or butterfly, Farmers must study these forma of life carefully, so as to trap and destroy them at each stsge successfully. Hence the importance of the study of entomology. An instance of lamentable ravages by a species of cockchafer in South Russia was quoted, owing to the supineness of the peasantry in not seizing the opportunity of destroying the swarm when half drowned. Dr. Moore then described with some minuteness the process of development of the codlin moth and larva of the phylloxera, and of the Odontria Zealandica. The damage done by the phylloxera has already cost the Victorian Government £40,000. and the New South Wales £30,000, and still no efficient remedy has been discovered, the only resort being, as in the case of the wine-growing countries of Europe, the rooting up and destruction of the infected vines. In 1884 the New Zealand Government passed rather hurriedly the Codlin Moth Act; but this year further and wider legislation is required, and it must bo carried out under scientific and skilled supervision, or it will be ineffective. The destruction wrought by the larva of the Odontria in Epsom, in the Waikato, and elsewhere will seriously diminish the paßturage for sheep and cattle during next summer. Professor Kirk in his preliminary report enumerates eight distinct diseases of fruit trees, of which five are caused by insects. No mention is made of the phylloxera, Odontria, or the codlin moth. Two leading societies, the Auckland Institute and the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, have each forwarded strongly-worded resolutions to the Government at Wellington, asking that a competent entomologist should be appointed to effectually deal with tho pests. The United States had set us a good example in appointing Professor Riley, whose researches iuto the natural history of the locust had spread his fame over the world, as Government entomologist. The Herald deserved tbe thanks of the whole community for the persevering way in which it had collected facts relating to the subject. The motion, with the slight emendation, making it apply to the whole of New Zealand, was carried unanimously, amid applause. The Premier intimated that the Government would appoint an entomologist in conformity with the terms of the motion.

REPRESENTATION BILL—IX COMMITTEE,

The House went into committee on this Bill. The discussion on the third clause arose out of an amendment by Mr. Bo&rdman that GO be substituted for 9, thus asserting the principle of single electorates. It was cartied on with excellent spirit, some good speeches being made on both sides of the House. At half-past nine a motion was made on the side of the Opposition to report progress, but the Government refused to entertain it, insisting that the Bill should be dealt with before other business was taken in hand, as they intended to bring down a Local Government Bill aa a complement to the measure. In deference to the strong opposition made to the clause, as originally drafted, the Premier intimated that Government would bo prepared to concede twenty for nine electorates, but otherwise would make a stand, and resign their seats on the Ministerial Benches if defeated. The concession affected some couple of votes, whioh would otherwise have been cast against the Government. At half-past ten, amid considerable excitement and cries of " Divide !" the House went to a division on the amendment, with the result that the Opposition were beaten by four votes. The following is the division list For single electorates : —Ayes : Messrs. Atkin, Bell, Bloomfield, Boardmsn, Bruce (Rev. D.), Cherry, Connolly, W. Cooper, Crowther, Kdmiston, Laßoche, Moore (Or.), McLachlan, Neylon, Purohas (Dr.), Williams, Young; F. Philips and G. M. Main (tellers)—l9. Noes : Austin, Blades, Blyth, Campbell, Cox, Cranwell, Debney, Duffus, Hon. J. M. Geddis, Hon. W. Gorrie, Gray, Hon. T. Henderson, Jeune, Mason, Hon. W. McCullough, J. McManus, McMnster, Hon. W. J. Napier, W. JH. Webb, T. L. White, Hon. H. Williamson ; E. W. Burton and F. Lawry (tellers)— 23. The position now is that the House has rejected the proposal for 60 electorates, the number nine now stands part of the Bill subject to further action of the House in committee. The result of the division was received by the Ministerialists with great cheering. The other business on the order paper was postponed till next sitting.

NOTICES OF MOTION

Following notices of motion were given : Mr. Boardman (Newton) : (1) "That, in the opinion of this House, a Bill should be introduced providing that no deed or will shall prevent the alienation of land after the death of the owner; and if there is any clause in any deed or will that does so prevent it, that shall be void and of non effect. (2) That the Government is respectfully requested to bring in such a Bill." Mr. Ceylon (Roslyn): "That the Government be requested to place a sum on the supplementary estimatos for the purpose of fencing in the graves of the men who were killed in active service in the Waikato, East Coast, and West Coast campaigns."