PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 14

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

Wednesday, Atjgust 1. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE SHEEP DEPARTMENT.

Mr LANCE brought up the report of the Sheep Committee and moved that it be printed. He stated that the committee had made very exhaustive inquiry as to the existence of scab» and had taken a large amount of evidence. The report strongly condemned the management of the department. Great dissatisfaction txisted with respect to management. It was disgraceful that scab should exist in the colony at present. Although he had been consulted on the subject by officers of tha department for years past he had never until the present time , interfered with those officers. The committee, however, had been appointed expressly to inquire into the working of the Sheep departmcut, and, although there were ninny capable men »n it he had no hesitation in asserting that the head of the department wns not lit for his position. He moved that the report lie on the table. Mr M'KENZIE (Waiherao) moved as an .amendment that the Government be requested to give effect to the recommendation of the committee appointed by both Houses of Parliament. Mr KERR, in seconding the' amendment, assorted that the department was the most expensive and badly managed of any in the Government service. The travelling expenses of the chiet 6heep inspector were very excessive. He hoped the Government would look into the matter of expenses connected with this department. Mr BUCHANAN agreed with the recommendation of the committee that instructions should be given to inspectors that they should not leave any district till they were satisfied that scab had disappeared from the flocks of that district. He hoped the Minister for Lands would take it as an instruction from the House that he should spare no efforts in carrying out the recommendations of the committee. The Hon. G. J. RICHARDSON said he fully appreciated the gravity of the matter, and to a certain extent he agreed ■ with the committee that it was disgraceful that scab should still exist in the colony. He could only assure the House that before next session he should tske steps to remedy the present state of things. Mr WALKER trusted the House would consider this one of the most practical questions that could come before it. Mr WILSON hoped the Minister would arrange for a reorganisation of the department. Mr BEETHAM did not consider the whole blame should lie with the sheep inspect t, as h»i thought he had not always been allowed to act on his own responsibility. Mr VALENTINE supported the amendment and said a great deal of mismanagement was caused by the class of persons appointed to act as sheep inspectors. The amendment was agreed to on the voices, and the motion as amended carried. THE NATIVE LANDS COURT. Mr KELLY brought up the report of the Native Affairs Committee on the petition of Arthur Owen. The report was to the effect that the charges against the Chief «][udge and officers of the Native Lands Court were not : substantiated. Mr HAMLIN moved—" That the evidence be laid on the table and that the presentation of : the report b,e delayed till next day." Mr KELLY saw no reason for the amendment being agreed to, as the report was arrived at unanimously. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said Mr Hamlin's request was perfectly fair. Mr BALLANCE said the committee had not gone into the charges made by Mr Hamlin against the Chief Judge, b,ut he thought the request for a postponement reasonable. Mr HAMLIN'S amendment was agreed to on i the voices.