EXTRACTS FROM "HANSARD-"'

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 31 July 1888, Page 3

EXTRACTS FROM "HANSARD-"'

OALIFOBNIAN THISTLE BIGL. In the Housa on July 10, speaking on the committal of the OaUfornlan Thistle Eradication B 11. Mr Walker said the remarks he made on the second reading of the Bill applied sa strongly now bb they did theis He had looked at this Bill with »s kind an eye sa be possibly could, but he contended that it was a fatal mistake that a Bill dealing with this matter should be placed m the bsn^a oF the Sheep Lepartraent to carry oat. The Sheep Department was, bo to speak, on its-trial et the present time. They knew that certain portions of the work of the Inspectors had been faaHy. He did not sp ak cf all, but hi ep-.ke of some, and it would be moch wiaer, he thought, not to put upon their ehouldera work which should be done effectually if attempted at all. It must either mean a large increase cf the staff, or else that the whole of the work they had on their Bhoolders wonld not be properly done. Tha local bodies would be the proper persons to deal with this matter. They had Inspectors of j Roads, Inspectors of Water races and other county workp, and they were therefore up and down the districts ; and why should these looal officials not be able to do what it was proposed to put upon the shoulders of tha Sheep Inspectors, who did not travel except when there were either Infected ehaep or rabbits m the district 1 Either the Bill wonld be a dead letter m certain portions of the colony, or the department would have to be enormously increased. The honorable member for Cheviot had said they were obllged.to put the work In the hands of tbe Sheep Department In Tasmania. Possibly the looal authorities there were very weak, or the Sheep Department ffaa a good deal stronger than ours. He quite believed that the latter was the case. That department had cleared years ago a colony whioh for many years previously bad beea one of the worst m the matter of scab. Our department was on its trial for years, and, as adminibt red from j Wellington, bad failed to do what the provincial authorities of Canterbury, Hkwke's Bay, and Otago had dune years ago. Therefore he considered it was absolute folly to put info the hands of the depattuaent work which they knew nothing about, and whiob, he presumed, they probably would not do well. For these reasons he would support the honorable member for Waitotara'in endeavorlSg to improve the Bill m Committee, and should bo very Borry if It passed In its present shape. The Bill was committed,