LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

CD. Act. In the Legislative Council yesterday, Dr. Menzies presented a petition from Otago, praying that the Contagious Diseases Act may be expunged from the Statute Book. Stoats aukd Weasel*. Mr Reeves moved, " That in the opinion of this Council it is highly inexpedient that the Government should take steps to provide a large and constant supply of destructive vermin, known as stoats and weasels, aa recommended in the report of the joint Rabbit Nuisance and Sheep Act Amendment Committee " He had no deeire to cripple or obstruct the committee in their deeire to do away with the rabbit pest, but he felt sure that the cure would prove worse than the disease. Mr Bathgate seconded the motion. Mr Johnson defended the recommendation of the joint committee. He said the committee had received communications from a great number of large and small farmers, the majority of whom expressed the opinion that any method by which rabbit 3 could be exterminated would prove acceptable. In many portions of the colony it was impossible to take poisoned grain, owing to the inaccessible character of the ranges. The discussion was adjourned. Civil Service Reform. Sir F. Whitaker resumed the debate on the question of the second reading of the Civil Service Reform Bill, to which an amendment had been proposed that the bill be committed that day six months. He objected entirely to the proposal that cadets should be nominated by the House, and he also objected to the proposed amendment on the part of the Government that cadets should be nominated on the system of representation of districts. He also objected to the clause whereby Civil servants might be dismissed at three months' notice, just as domestic servants wero discharged, and thi* clause, in his opinion, savoured too much of the American system of public servants being dismissed when a change of Ministry occurred. Both the objections he had mentioned were eufftcient to warrant him in opposing the bill. - Several members having spoken, Mr Buckley moved the adjournment of the debate. This was agreed to.