THE HOUSE ON BEES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2165, 22 August 1907, Page 2

THE HOUSE ON BEES

MORE “AVISE” DISCUSSION

(Special to Times). AVELLINGTON, August 21. Members occupied their time this afternoon mainly witli an uninteresting discussion on answers to questions and it lias now been dealing for several hours with a Bill regarding bees. Some members seem to have a wonderful knowledge of bees and other members a great want of knowledge on the same subject. Mr. Symes, fortified with i many books, was proceeding to enlighten the ignorance of some of his fellowmembers when tlie dinner adjournment cut short his eloquence. After dinner members began to discover all kinds of iniquities in the Bill. Members wero inclined to make merry at tile expense of tile Minister in regard to tlie powers proposed to be granted to Inspectors and the pains and penalties for people who kept bees suffering from "bficiHus alvei,” “bacillus larval,” "galleria mellonella” and “aehroea grizzilla.” Mr. Hone Hoke saw all sorts of trouble ahead. "I can take you, Mr. Chairman,” he said, “to a house not 40 miles from here where there is a hive of bees under a galvanised iron roof. They have been there for 3 years or more so far as I know, and I would point out that under this Act * bouse becomes a bush.”

This led Mr. Malcolm to think of a hive that lie had seen .under a shingle roof. If these bees were suffering from "aehroea grpizella,’’ the owner of the house would have to destroy them, but he could not do so for fear" of fire.

Someone else wished to know if a man killing such bees would then become liable under the Animals Protection Act.

With much deliberation the reps, of tlie people wrestled with this mighty problem and at 11 p.m. they are still wrestling with it. One could not help thinking if Mr. McNab'Tias such difficulty with a Bill about bees he will have a. good deal more with his Bill about land.