AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE, AND JOINT AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 Session I, I-12

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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE, AND JOINT AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be -printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE.

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 28th Day of June, 1905. Ordered, "That Standing Order No. 218 be suspended, and that a Committee, consisting of fourteen members, be appointed to consider all matters pertaining to agricultural and pastoral industries and stock ; with power to oonfer and sit together with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint or separate report; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Kidd, Mr. Kirkbride, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Lethbridge, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Rutherford, Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Mr. Symea, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Duncan).

REPORTS.

AGRICULTUEAL, FASTOEAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE. (Mr. LAWKY, Chairman.)

Fruit Trade. I am directed by the Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee to ask leave to lay on the table of the House certain evidence given before that Committee by Messrs. Charles Bagley and Josiah Daniel Webster on the fruit trade of the colony, and also to ask that the same may be printed. (Vide Appendix 1.-12 c.) 18th July, 1905. I am directed by the Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee to ask leave to lay on the table of the House certain evidence given before the Committee by Messrs. William Johns, President of the Fruit-growers' Union, Auckland, and T. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, Wellington, on the fruit trade of the colony, and also to ask that the same be printed. (Vide, Appendix 1.-12 c.) 24th August, 1905.

Seeds Examination Bill. The Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee, to whom was referred the Seeds Examination Bill, have the honour to report that they have carefully considered the said Bill, and they recommend that the same be allowed to proceed with the amendments shown in the copy attached hereto. (Vide Appendix 1.-12 a.) 29th August, 1905.

Nos. 83, 210, 211, 212, 213, and 214.—Petitions of Mrs. Henribtte Moir and 54 Others, James Moir and 153 Others, J. G. Parry and 33 Others, L. J. Pattison and 19 Others, H. Wilson and 19 Others, and Nathaniel Wilson and 14 Others, of Warkworth, Mahurangi, Puhoi, and other places north of Auckland. Petitioners pray for amendment of " The Noxious Weeds Act, 1900." I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that the petitions be referred to the Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee. 19th September, 1905.

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No. 52.—Petition of Mrs. Amelia R. Howard, Cheltenham Road, Devonport, Auckland. Petitioned, prays for compassionate allowance owing to her destitute condition through the death of her husband, A. G. Howard, Assistant Meat-inspector, Stock Department. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that the sum of £50 be placed on the supplementary estimates as compassionate allowance, the petitioner being absolutely penniless and without the necessaries of life. 19th September, 1905.

No. 545.—Petition of A. T. Wills and Others, Hawera. Petitioners pray that calves under fourteen days old be permitted to be offered for sale without previously being inoculated for blackleg. I am directed to report that, as the regulations of the Stock Department (published in Gazette No. 89, of the 12th instant) satisfy the requirements of the petitioners, the Committee have no recommendation to make. 28th October, 1905.

Flax Industry. The Committee has the honour to report that communications were sent by authority to all the Chambers of Commerce, Maxmillers' Associations, and individuals known to be interested in the flax industry in the colony, inviting witnesses to appear and give evidence on every phase of the said industry. In response to this invitation, twenty witnesses appeared before the Committee, which sat eight days taking evidence. The Committee is of opinion that the evidence given is most valuable, and must be of great utility in guiding the Department of Agriculture in framing amended regulations to meet the requirements of the industry, which is essentially national. The Committee strongly recommends that the Department be authorised to take immediate steps to promote by all available means the cultivation of flax, the evidence having conclusivety shown the necessity of such a course. The Committee does not feel justified in recommending that the export of inferior fibre should be prohibited. The Committee specially approves of the statements made by the Chief Grader—viz., that the Department intended by amended regulations to reduce the difference between the various grades of quality of dressed flax from fifteen points to seven. (Fide Appendix 1.-12 d.) 28th October, 1905.

JOINT AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL, AND STOCK COMMITTEE. (Hon. Mr. ORMOND, Chairman.)

Nos. 183, 210, 211, 212, 213, and 214.—Petitions of Mrs. H. Mom and Others, James Moir and Others, J. G. Parry and Others, L. J. Pattison and Others, H. Wilson and Others, and N. Wilson and Others. The Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee, to whom the above petitions were referred, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make, the matters embodied in these petitions being provided for by the Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill. 29th September, 1905.

Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill. The Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee, to whom was referred the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that they have considered the said Bill, ai\d recommend that it be allowed to proceed with the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill attached hereto. (Vide Appendix 1.-12b.) 29th September, 1905.

Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill. The Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee, to whom was referred the Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that they have considered the said Bill, and recommend that it be allowed to proceed with the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill attached hereto; and the Committee further recommend that the Government be requested to so arrange that the Bill may receive favourable consideration during the present session. 29th September, 1905. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,425 copies), £1 6s.

By Authority: John Maokay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9os.

Price 3d.]