PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 45, 22 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

THE STOCK BILL. IMPORTANT TO FARMERS. (per press association). House of Representatives. Wellington, August 20. The House met at 7 80. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill was intended to make the present Act more workable, and to relieve merchants from payment of certain dues on drawbacks. The motion was agreed to after a short discussion. The Bill was then committed, reported without amendment, and subsequently put through its final stages. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Pest Office Acts Amendment Bill, which contained several alteration!? in the existing Post Office Act. Clause 2 provided for the introduction of letter cards, which unlike post card?, could be folded up. It was intended to charge one penny for these within the colony, and twopence to Australia. Clause U dealt with the matter of offensive publications and indecent literature, a large quantity of which now passed through the post. Then it was intended by the Bill to give greater power in stopping the circulation of literature of this kind. A new feature in the Bill was a proposal to pay compensation up to Jt'2 for the loss of a registered letter. The Bill also set forth exact form in which postal notes should be issued and determined their currency. Sir John Hall thought there should be somo definition of what a letter card was. He also pointed out what it would be very undesirable that a large number of postal notes should be left outstanding. In reply to Captain Russell, Mr Ward paid the revenue would not be decreased by the proposed change. On the contrary there would be no increase. As to the other question raised by Sir John Hall, he said it was proposed to extend the currency of £1 or £5 in order to enable the people in the remote country districts to take advantage of it. The intention of the Bill was to make the currency of these postal notes unlimited. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Mr "Ward moved the second reading of the Banks and Companies Accounts Audit Dill which was simply meant to enable the majority of shareholders in any incorporated company or bank to have an independent audit if they so chose. Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to. Mr MeKenzie moved the second reading of the Stock Bill, which he explained was before the House last session. Since then it had been before the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in the colony, and many suggestions were received from these bodies. The Bill provided for the abolition of Cattle Boards, and for the payment of compensation to the people whose cattle had been destroyed on account of disease. It rendered the clipping of long wool sheep compulsory, and made new regulations with regard to the driving of stock, and branding of sheep. The proposal in the Bill with regard to ear marking would probably provoke some opposition, but he thought something of this kind was necessary to prevent sheep stealing. As the Bill now stood it was principally a consolidation measure. Mr Bnchanan thought Ministers would be unable to pass any Bill of this kind in the House this session. If the Bill passed in its present form the greater part of the North Island would have to be declared infected land. He detailed the features in the Bill to which he took objection, and took particular exception to the proposed ear mark. Mr Wright characterised the Bill as a measure to worry sheep owners, and legalise sheep stealing, and said if it were not materially altered by the Stock Committee, there was not the slightest chance of its going through the House. Captain Russell thought the Bill was fearfully and wonderfully made and bristled with penalties from the first to the last clause. Mr McKenzie evidently thought he could extirpate footrot by Act of Parliament, but do what they could in this direction, footrot would be as bad twenty years hence as at the present time. After further debate the tone of which was decidedly hostile to the measure, the second reading of the Stock Bill was agreed to on the voices and the Bill referred the Stock Committee. In course of his reply the Minister said he feared the Bill had little chance of passing as it has been condemned by nearly every member who spoke. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House rose at 12.50 a.m.