DAIRY INSPECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13748, 10 September 1908, Page 7

DAIRY INSPECTION.

THE RIGHT OF APPEAL.

CLAIMS OF THE DAIRYMEN

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 9.

At tho present time the dairy inspectors have almost absolute power in dealing with the dairymen of the Dominion, and the member for Kaiapoi (Mr Buddo) asked the Minister of Agriculture to-day whether he would not amend tho law so as to give the dairymen the right of ■ appeal to a magistrate when they felt aggrieved. The Minister replied that ho did not 'propose to submit legislation dealing with the point mentioned. Mr Buddo said the matter deserved attention. Tho dairymen wero deeply concerned to know how far the powers of the dairy inspectors were arbitrary. The men engaged in the dairy industry recognised the value of inspection, and were prepared to submit to all necessary regulations. He knew of cases in which Very good and presentable yards had been condemned Tbecaus© they did not quite meet the views of the inspectors, and he felt that the dairymen should be given some right of appeal, say to a magistrate. The Minister for Agriculture (Hon. R. McNab), in replying, said the regulations had been sent to the Agricultural and Stock Committee for consideration and report, and he hoped to be able before tha end of this week to place the whole or the regulations before that committee and to take evidence on the question. Some witnesses would be submitted by the Department, and there were representatives of the dairy industry from various parts of New Zealand who desired to go before the committee and show reasons for or against the regulations. Until the regulations were before the House he suggested that it would be a fair thing to refrain from criticism. An opportunity of discussing them would be provided in duo course. The alteration of the Act could not be taken in' hand this session for various reasons, but he believed there would be very little left to complain of when the regulations had been finally dealt with.