Special Legislation For Isolated Aspects Of Farming Unlikely

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 October 1948, Page 6

Special Legislation For Isolated Aspects Of Farming Unlikely

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Oct. 27, (P.A.).—ln the House of Representatives today, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Cullen), answering Mr. W. H. Gillespie (Opp., Hurunui), said that it was inadvisable to introduce legislation dealing with isolated aspects of the sheep farming industry. It was expected a full report of the Sheep Industry Commission would be presented to the Government in time for a comprehensive review, during the 1949 session of Parliament, of the action it might be desirable to take in connection with the industry’s recommendations.

Mr. Gillespie had asked if there would be legislation this session of benefit to high country farmers liable to suffer snow losses.

Mr. McAlpine <Opp : , Selwyn) said the Minister had had given no indication whatever of the present or future intentions of the Government. Unfortunately, the Minister was a North Island man and was probably not aware of the seriousness of the position of the high-country men in the South Island. He was probably not aware that lands board in the South had done a good job in helping to settle high country’ problems, and now the Minister was intending to abolish them.

No attempt had been made by the Minister to deal with such questions as the Kea menace, which was very real in Canterbury. Considerable losses had already been reported this year, and still the department or Government had done nothing. Mr. McAlpine urged the Minister to give consideration to the interim report of the Commission and make some provision to meet the situation before the end of the session.