HORSESHOERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1538, 6 September 1912, Page 7

HORSESHOERS.

REGISTRATION ASKED FOR. BILL PROPOSED, The passing of a Bill to provide for tho registration of all farriers employed in the Dominion was advocated by a deputation from the Tnranaki, Wellington, and other brunches of the >>'evv Zealand Farmers' and Blacksmiths' Association, which interviewed tho Prime Minister last evening. The deputation was introduced, by Mr. J". B. Hiuo, M.P. Mr. J. AY. Brayshaw said that a petition had been circulated for signature amongst the farriers of tho Dominion, proposing that legislation should be passed providing that all farriers at a given date should be subjected to a theoretical and practical examination in subjects pertaining to the shoeing of horses, successful farriers to bo registered and supplied with a . certificate of competeucy. Farriers who had been in the trade f or a given number of years, it was proposed, should bo given certificates on a time qualification. Afterwards no uncertificated person should be allowed to work at tho trade for profit. The replies received from farriers to whom tho proposals wore submitted numbered 258. Eleven declared themselves opposed to tho proposals, and 217 favourable. Of the eleven who voted against tho proposals five gave no reason for so (long. The other six gave various reasons, that the Bill would put the country to unnecessary expense, that the customer was tho best judge of good farriery, and so oil. One antagonistic reply ran: "Dead against it. Too much registration. If thero wero less the country vould he all the bettor for it. Give everyone a chance to live. Hopo you don't succeed." Mr. Brayshaw also read a.number of the 247 favourable replies. Many of them stated that the present unregulated condition of the tw.de involved cruelty to horses. Ho claimed thtit there was a unanimous cry from end to end of the country for the Bill, which ho was advocating. Mr. Massey: ."What do you propose to do with learners?

Mr. Brayshaw said that all such details wero covered in a. Bill which was introduced some years ago by Mr. C. E. Major, but did Hot pass. Mr. W. Talbot, on behalf of the Wellington branch of tho association, supported the registration proposals. Mr. G. M'Baiu (Stratford) also supported the proposal. Mr. Massey said that he knew something of the subject. Ho had been a horse-owner all bis life, and was a horseowner now, and knew- what a very serious thing it was to have horses shod by incompetent men. So far, as tho desire for efficiency was concerned, he was with thofflj and the Government Would be with them as well, but bo did not intend to support anything in the shape of a close corporation, lie would not introduce a Bill to do this, and tho House would not look at it if ho did. Soma of the arguments used had not strengthened the case of the deputation. One of the letters read had stated that 60 per cent, of tho men now employed in the- trado wero not Competent. What was it proposed to do ' with these men?

Mr. Brayshaw said that these men would get certificates on time of service. It was proposed that all apprentices, improvers, or journeymen who had worked for five years at the.trade should be granted certificates. Mr, Massey: The examination would be by a veterinary surgeon? Mr. Brayshaw: That is a detail which would bo left to tho Department. Mr. Massey said he could not mako a. definite promise. They wore justiin the thick of th.9 session, and a lot of work remained to be put through before tho session ended, lie was" hot at all certain of the reception the proposed Bill would meet. It had met with a spmewhat mixed reception when, it was last beforo the House. As Minister for Agriculture he would, submit the proposals of the deputation to the' Agriculture and Stock Committee, which could hear ovi-donciS-.from experts and from people conriocto'd'witli' tfio' trade.' ' ..If. '/tho evidence mnde it seem advisable to introduce a Bill before the end of the session he would, do 60.