The Dog Registration Bill.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1862, 26 July 1886, Page 2

The Dog Registration Bill.

When this Bill was being dealt with in Committee of the Hoaae of Representative a on Thursday, a somewhat lively discussion took place over it. Mr McMillan proposed an amendment exempting the dogs of Maoris from the tax. Mr Te Ao pointed ont that the Maoris thought a great deal of their dogs—as much, [in fact, as many hon members thought of their honorarium. Ultimately the amendment was agreed to, so the dogs of the Maoris are not to be taxed. This exemption roused the ire of some hon members, one of whom proposed that house dogs should also be exempted. Then another member moved that bull dogs be exempted. A lively debate ensued, in which Mr O’Connor took the principal part, arguing that tbe Native mem. bers bad not acted fairly in supporting tbe Bill, because an exemption was given to their constituents. He pointed out that a great many people were to a certain extent dependant on dogs. (An hon member: Sausages !) He wanted to know why innocent little dogs should be persecuted in this irrational way. Why, if dogs destroyed sheep let a Royal Commission be appointed to inquire into the matter. Mr H. Hirst then arose with a book in bis band, and asked whether he would be in order in describing the different dogs, called house dogs. He proceeded to read from tbe book, and was in the act of alluding to tbe virtues of tbe terrier dog under certain circumstances, when he was interrupted and called to order. Mr Hursthouse said he should describe to tbe Committee what a house dog was. He then entered into a description of collies and other dogs, discriminating carefully between the dogs which had short tails, those which had long tails, and those which had no tails at all. Ultimately the amendments exempting house dogs and bull dogs were lost. A proposal to exempt ladies’ pet dogs was also rejected. Alter hon members had amused themselves in this way for a considerable time the was allowed to pass through Committee, and the motion for its third reading was fixed for the following day.