POLITICAL NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1929, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

PRODUCE PRICES,

WELLINGTON, August 7

Assuming as a fact that both meat and dairy produce exporters propose to pay a much lower -price to primary producers this year, Air Langstone (Waimariijo) asked the Prime Alinister to approach the British Government Food Purchasing. Council to purchase the whole, of our exportable food products at a price satisfactory to our primary producers.

Sir Joseph Ward, replied that the Government cannot see its way to take any action in the direction indicated in the honourable member’s question.

TRACING STOLEN SHEEP. Careful consideration is promised by the Alinister of Agriculture to a request from Alir Bitcheuer (Waitaki) that the Government have inserted in the Stock Act a clause making it compulspry for auctioneering firms and others dealing in sheep to keep a record of all brands on sheep sold by public auction or private sale, in order to assist in the tracing of stolen sheep. 1 • 1 ' The Minister .a (Ms. that the. proposal will need to toe gone into very thoroughly. from, all points of view in order to determine how the operation of an enactment framed on these lines could he made effectively practicable. AIINISTER DEFENDS HTS OFFICERS. “There is no reason for any feeling of uneasiness on the part of producers in connection .with the Department generally or with its research and investigation work into disease affecting dairy cows and other farm animals, declared the Afinister of Agriculture in reply to Mr Poison (Stratford), who called his attention to criticism of the Department’s veterinary officers.

Air Forbes added that this work Is being efficiently performed by canable and zealous men, with the Wallaceville laboratory as a: base of operations. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is well acquainted with what is being done at Wallaceville. and is of opinion that this institution possesses an' excellent staff, which is doing work of, a high quality. A similarly high opinion has been expressed toy a leading medical bacteriologist and toy two of . the leading medical pathologists in the Dominion, all df whom are ill' ai position J/o speak from first-hand knowledge gained by personal visits' to the laboratory.

SUBSIDIES ON’.WAGES. Answering a suggestion by All M’Dougall (Mataura) that the Government consider giving to farmers the same subsidy as has been offered to the four cities, namely £1 for £1 on labour, on condition that the farmer' pays the standard rate of wage, the Prime Minister replied: “The subsidies payable for assisting unemployment are available for all local bodies, as defined under the Local' Bodies Loans Act. The suggestion to subsidise labour for private employers is, however, impracticable. RAILWAY ATEN AND 1 TRANSPORT BOARD. That the Alinister of Transport should make provision for a representative of the railway employees to sit on the Transport Board was a request from Mr M’Combs. In reply, the 'Minister of Transport said that provision has already been made in the constitution of the Transport Advisory Council for representation of transport employees, and it is considered there is n 6 necessity to make the appointment referred to.

QUITE WILLING. “Yes,” is the single-word answer of the Minister of Lands to a request by Mr O’Brien (Westland) to have a careful investigation made of all land in Westland suitable for settlement or purchase, with a view of settling as many farmers as possible on such land. ' Mr O’Brien is of opinion that there is a large area of land suitable for settlement that can be bought at from £5 to £lO an acre. SLAUGHTERING INSPECTION. A Bill to consolidate and amend the Slaughtering and Inspection Act is being prepared, and may be submitted for consideration of members during the current session, states the Minister of Agriculture, who undertakes to consider a suggestion from Mr Clyde Carr that adjoining districts, whose individual populations are less than 2000, shall be grouped for the purpose of establishing central abattoirs (for their collective use, thus ensuring inspection of all meat, which is not at present provided for in all oases. THIRD PARTY. RISK. A case occurred recently in Christchurch where the coroner gave a verdict that deceased was killed by being knocked down by a motor-car, but there was no evidence to prove who was the owner or driver of the oar, consequently the family oannot claim compensation. This caused Mr Sullivan and Mr H. Holland to request the Minister of Transport to make a suitable amendment in the law relating to third party risks.