PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 213, 2 September 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TUESD.U', SEPTEMBER 1. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Consideration of' the Estimates imio resumed.

Department of Agriculture, ;C14!),033 —Air. ilerries regretted the vote «•;« not split up in departments to enable) a fuller discussion of all the vunvit branches of agricultural work. He expressed surprise at the amount that still appeared at this late date for oxidases in connection with the late Ohrislchurch Exhibition. Such expenses ought to have been paid before. . Several members urged that something should be done to cope with the Small bird nuisance, which increased the cost of produce by their ravages. Air. Wilford, while congratulating the Minister upon his admirable administration of the Department, said that agricultural pursuits must be encouraged in every way possible, and ho hoped the Government would do something to encourage young Sow Zealanders to become veterinarians instead of going abroad for veterinarians. Air. ,lcirai»ss wished the Government to do something to exterminate rabbits in tile King Country, nail import Angora goats to keep down noxious weeds.

Mr. AlcNab, replying to criticisms and suggestions, explained Hint the amount on the Estimates for the Exhibition was for matters not completed last year. Reports on the work of the natural enemy of small birds mid. been snti-faclory. The Government was taking steps in regard to the salaries of meat inspectors and agreed that legislation was necessary to prevent uncertificated veterinarians practising on animals. Arrangements had been made with the (Hugo University lo open a veterinary school, and the men trained there would have the first eliiini upon the Department for employment. An endeavor would be ma(w to secure more Angora goats. There was no possibility of the British Government stopping the boned beef liade altogether. All that could be done was to leave it to the High Commissioner to make representations. Air. Okcy considered that the regidalion requiring a dairy farmer to brand butler "creamery initter" and not "dairy butler," unless lie had at least 7.". cows was unfair. No distinction should be made. Air. Donald lleid objected to the sum of CflOO, salaries to manure-sterilising inspectors in Sydney and Calcutta, and move! a reduction of the vote by £1 for the purpose' of obtaining information.

Mr. -McXa'b explained tliat, the inspectors had to do a great dwil of travelling. It would be a mistake to allow bones to pome into the Dominion without inspection. Mr. Hcrries wanted to know if the bones arriving 'bore were properly sterilised.

Mr. McXab said he understood no ease of anthrax had been reported since the inspectors were sent out; at least there was no case traceable Tto bones in respect of which inspectors had given certificates. Xo special -ex-' animation should lie made here, unless the attention of the Department was called to a suspicious Shipment. The amendment was lost on t!io voices. The debate was interrupted bv the o.lifl adjournment. The debate was resiTincd at 7.30. Mr. HerrieS hoped tire Minister would enlighten the House respecting the rumors of Mr. Gilruth's projected retirement. . , u;.?:;; j-

Mr. Massey failed to understand how til!! Poultry ((railing Department cost CP2!I7 in salaries, while a sum o[ C3OOO was down for preparing poultn for export, Tile total value of fhi poultry exported was .C 1230, yet It cost .c:l!-ls to prepare it. Mr. McXab said he had no intention ot appointing more than one meat inspector in London. As to the sum set down for preparing poultry for export. hat was recouped to the Department by exporters, and the cost to the Department was nothing. Mr. Massey said Unit was no explanation of the high cost of preparing the poultry, lie said (her,, seemed t„ be many ollicers i„ (he Department doing little, and (here were manv directions 111 wl| ich (he i t T could be , s i,ent (o greater advantage. '

.Mi'. .MA'iil, said Hi,. ollkvr* als* jrriulcd i«r K s tor loc-Jil consumption. T/u----(ioyernmcnt had 1,,.,.,, ,|oin K its best to Inrtli,,- the export industry f ,„. „,,„ •■"miry, j[r. <;ji rl , t i, (hc ■Jlpnist,. r said tin: Secretary of Aunvu]lure hud received a iHtl'r from Mr. Hial, the s , CTl . t arv of 11 " I mv.T S il,v of iMelliourne luul asked wiicllior In- would accept 1|„. ~],ai,. "• y.-K-riiiMr.v and ~atl,ol»w - , and had ■'•l'li'''t hi Hi,, (illirmatiiv. The Jliiiister k.icw of no inun who would r.-fusi-such »„ olhr He th 0,,,,,,, it 1 ,, llll( . u , (1 K>cat credit upon the Department. The, ' S i , '. C .'.' C '! :ill ?', ot A g ric,,l V ,r < J hl «l boon in-

strilctcd In convey (lie congratulations <>f Hie Department to Mr. Oilruth Mr Poakos would, succeed Mr. Gilrnt.li as (■l'K't \ eterinnrian. Deferring to otlier matters, Mr. McNab said the report on 'li'ii-v produce ins]*'elion in ly,n,km, I would I K . submitted shortly. The vote was ins.-vd unaltered On flip Stale Forests account vole e:i(>.2ol. ,V| r . Ilerries and Mr. Massey' urged file necessity for a more vigorous iv-allorestation policy. ° -Mr. M.-Xab said the (,'o'vernment had had had luck at Dtimgrcc, but had moved tile young trees tliero (o other planla lions. .

Hie vide was passed unaltered | Scenery .Preservation Account vote C!»2ii>. was passed unaltered. ' On the State Coal Mines Account, U1f1.123, Mr. ,1. Allen. Mr. Cray and other, complained that the Seddonvffie mi.i" was an utter failure. Xo company would conl inu-e to run it Mr. Cray said the Point T.VvaUoth mine should not be made to pay f or the Seddonville mine whirl) was a hope less failure and should be closed up Mr Mcflowan said the mines must be considered as a whole. Thev had reduced the price of eoal to the general

Mr. TTcrrit'. drew attention to the heavy increase in the vole this V n~ fi'om .-eino.no to £3in,nno ' ' "

Several members applauded the -r----lion of the Department, which checked monopolies and reduced prices (T.cft Sitting).