N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17465, 27 July 1928, Page 6

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. RABBIT NUISANCE BILL. i READ A SECOND TIME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.? WELLINGTON, Thursday. In the House of Representatives thi second reading of the Rabbit NuisancK Bill was moved by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. O. J. Hawken, this evening. The Minister said there were some who held the opinion that the farming of wild rabbits was a payable proposition, hut there was always a danger that such a practice might get out of hand. At present they had got the nuisance down to a point where it could be controlled. He instanced the success in the Wairarapa, which' had been practically cleared of rabbits. As the result of good work being done by the boards further progress had been made all over the Dominion. The Minister then went on to explain the provisions of the Bill. Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) did not agree with trading in rabbits. The farming of rabbits only encouraged the pest, and New Zealand had to decide whether it \vas going to have wool or fur. He hoped Lhe Minister would not take off the protection now enjoyed by the natural enemies of the rabbit. The Leader of the Opposition .(.Mr 11. E. Holland), deprecated the pro-, posal to foster the breeding of rabbitsN for the sake of the " fur, which was fashionable to-day but might riot be to-morrow. The methods of destroying rabbits must he changed from time to time, because rabbits, 'like human beings, had the capacity of adapting themselves to altered conditions. Replying to the debate the Minister said powers asked for in the Bill were necessary, because, in different districts, different methods of destruction were necessary, and some settler might persist in using wrong methods. He saw no danger in permitting the keeping of white rabbits, because there was no instance known of then' escaping and becoming a nuisance. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Stock and ’Agricultural Committee. > Auctioneers Bill. Hon. F. J. Rolleston moved the second reading of the Auctioneers. Bill. The Minister ’said the existing law was somewhat out of date, as this was only the third time the matter had been legislated upon in 86 years. They had to look to Provincial Council legislation for the fixing of the licensing, fee at £4O, and that was the fee today. The reason for the Bill was that conditions were changing, and it was necessary to change the law. Instead of a local authority licensing auctioneers it was now proposed they should go before a magistrate and provide a fidelity bond in exactly the same way as land agents do. The fee would remain the same, and the money would still go to the local authority iu the town or district where the auctioncer’s business is. This, he thought, was an equitable arrangement as protection to Uie public. It was provided [pat all moneys received by auctioneers on behalf of 'clients must be paid into a trust account, lie was prepared to refer the Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee, before which auctioneers could give evidence. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) urged that auctions at church bazaars should be exempt from the provisions of the Dili. „ Mr W. A. Yeitch (Wanganui) considered if there was to be a tightening up of the law in the case of auctioneers in the matter of trust funds, the same provision should be made m respect of solicitors. • .... .Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere) urged that auctioneers should he compelled o disclose the name of the vendor and Die purchaser of stock. Failure Lo insist on this had led to a most unsatisfactory condition in the stock market He thought insistence upon the establishment of a trust account by auctioneers would result in an increase in cost to the public. He hoped theie would be no undue haste in passing th Mr ß a! Hamilton (Wallace) feared the establishment of a trust_ account bv auctioneers would result in heavy charges being put upon clients The discussion was continued until a late hour.