PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2285, 2 September 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AFTERNOON SITTING

[Press Association.] AVELLINGTON, Sept, 1

Tho House met at 2.30 p_.ni. Consideration of the Estimates was resumed at the Department of Agriculture, £149,033. Mr. AV. Merries regretted that tho vote was not split up in departments to enable fuller discussion of all the varied branches of agriculture work. He expressed surprise that an amount still appeared at this lute date for expenses in connection with the late Christchurch Exhibition. Such expense ought to have been paid before.

Several members urged that (something should bo dono to cope with tho small bird nuisance, which had increased the cost .of produeo by their ravages, ’ Mr. T. M. 4Yillot'd, while congratulating tho Minister upon the admirable administration of the Department, said that, agricultural pursuits must bo encouraged in ovory way possible, and ho hoped the Government would do something to encourage young New Zealiuidors'to become votterinarians instead of going abroad for veterinarians.

Mr. W. T. Jennings wished tho Government to do something to exterminate tho rabbits in tho King Country and to import Angora goats to keep down noxious weeds. Hon. It. MoN.ah, replying to criticism and. suggestions, explained that the amount of tho estimates for tho Exhibition ivas for matters not .completed last year. Reports on the work of the natural enemies of tho small birds had been satisfactory. Tho Government was taking stops in regard to salaries of meat inspectors, and lie agreed that legislation was necessary to prevent uncertificated veterinarians practising on animals. An arrangement had been made with tho Otago University to open a veterinary school, and men trained there would have a first claim upon tho Department for employment. An endeavor would be made to secure moro Angora goats. There was no possibility of the British Govorncnt stopping the boned beef trade altogether. All that could bo done was to leavo it to tho High Commissioner to make representations. Mr. H. J. Okey considered that tho regulation requiring a dairy farmer to brand his butter “creamery butter” and not “dairy butter,” unless be had at least 75 cows, very unfair. No distinction should be made. Mr. Donald Reid objected to the sum £9OO, salaries to manure-steril-ising inspectors at Sydney and Calcutta. and moved a reduction of tho vote bv £1 for the purpose of obtaining information. Hon. R. McNab explained that tho inspectors had to do a great deal of travelling. It would be a mistake to allow Iwmes to come into tho Dominion without inspection. Mr. AY. Hemes wanted to know if bones arriving here were properly sterilised. Hon. R. McNab said lie understood that no ease of anthrax had been reported since tho inspectors were sent out. At least, no case was traceable to bones in respect of which tho inspectors had given certificates. No special examination could be made here unless the attention of the Department was called to a suspicious shipment. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. EVENING SITTING. Committee of Supply resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Merries hoped that tho Minister would enlighten the • House respecting the rumours of Mr. J. A. Gilruth’s projected retirement. Mr. AA r . F. Massey failed to understand how the poultry-grading department cost £1297 in salaries, while a sum of £3OOO was down for preparing poultry for export. The total value of the poultry exported was £1230, yet it cost- £3148 to. prepare it.

Hon. 11. McNab said tlio Government had no intention of appointing more than one meat inspector in London. As to the sum set down for preparing poultry for export, that was recorded to the Department by the exporters, and cost the Department nothing. Mr. Massey said that that was no explanation of the high cost of preparing poultry. There seemed to bo many oificers in the Department doing little, and there were many dircctions in which the money could be spent to greater advantage. Hon. 11. McNab said the officers also graded eggs for looal consumption. The Government had been doing its best to further the poultry export industry for this country, ltespeeting Mr. Gilriith, the Minister said that the Secretary of Agriculture had received a letter from Mr. 'Oilruth, stating that the Secretary of the University at Melbourne was asking whether he would accept the chair of veterinary pathology, and ho had replied affirmatively. The Minister knew of no man who would refuse such an offer. He thought it reflected credit upon the Department. The Secretary of Agriculture was instructed to convey' the congratulations' of the Department to Mr. Gilriith. Mr. Reakes would succeed Mr. Gilriith as Chief Veterinarian. Referring to other matters, Mr. McNab said that a report on dairy produce inspection in London would bo submitted shortly. The vote was passed unaltered. Oil tlie State forest account, vote £30,201, Mr. Herries and Mr. Massey urged the necessity for a more vigorous re-afforestation policy. Hon. It. McNab said that the Government had had had luck at Dumgree, but bad removed the young trees from there to other plantations.

The vote was passed unaltered. The Scenery Preservation Account, vote £1275, was passed unaltered. On the State Coal Mines Account, £319,123, Messrs. J. Allen, C. M. Gray, and others complained that the Seddonville minct was an litter failure. No company would continue to run it. Mr. Gray said the-Point Elizabeth mine should not be made to pay for the Seddonville mine, which was a hopeless failure, and should ho closed up. Hon. .J. McGowan said that, the mines must he considered as a whole. They had reduced the price of coal to the general public. Mr. W. Herries drew attention to the heavy increase in the vote this year from £190,000 to £317,000. Several members applauded the action of the Department, which checked monopolies and reduced prices.