TEMUKA PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1372, 30 July 1885, Page 2

TEMUKA PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

The usual weekly meeting of the shore was held last Tuesday eroning. The Speaker took the chair at 7.45 p.tu. The Premier moved for leave to introduce the Tenants* Right Bill. He explained that the object of the Bill was to ensure to tenants compensation for any improvements they may make. —Leave was granted. The Premier moved for leave to introduce the Bill of Sale Bill, He explained that the Bill provided that before a person could give a bill of sale ha would have to give notice of his intention to do so to the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy. The Official Assignee would have to advertise the notice in the Bankruptcy Gazette, and the creditors of the person giving the bill of sale could lodge caveat against it. Unless the person giving the bill of sale could prove that he had full and sufficient means to pay

all his debts after providing for the bill <■ v of sale, the Official Assignee would not grant the license to give it. A bill of sale in which these conditions had bean complied with could not be upsat under aiy circumstances. i The Hon. the Colonial Secretary r (Mr G«ze) moved —■ “ That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that Koad Boarda and County Councils shall have power to compel all occupiers of land having five or more acres in crop to lay poison at a given period, foi the purpose of destroying such birds as are injurioui to cereal crops : and, furthermore, that a subsidy be granted to Hoad Boards and County Councils of £1 for every £1 expended in the supply of such poisoned wheat, seeds, or other materials ai may be used.” He urged that though many farmers destroyed a large number of birds at present, their action was nullified by their neighbors neglecting to lay any poison at all. Mr Wills, member for Waimate, objected to little birds being cursed and sworn at. Small birds were benefactor* inasmuch as they destroyed grubs and caterpillars. They had rid this colony ot the grub. He remembered how some years ago caterpillars destroyed all the evergreens in the Part, Only for small birds, wo should not have any evergreens / left. Mr Levons thought that instead of destroying small birds, they ought to destroy the J Acclimatisation Societies which bad introduced them, The next they would hear of would bo an attempt to acclimatise the Colorado beetle. He referred to the starling being very useful in ridding sheep of tick. Dr Hayes, member for Geraldine,, said the starling appeared to be easeitf tially colonial, ai it appeared to live on tick, (Laughter.) During the breeding season the birds destroyed immense numbers of grubs, caterpillars, etc. He was opposed to the motion, and should like the mover oi it to give them some more particulars on tbs subject. The Hon. Mr Bambridge supported the Farmers bad been great sufferers by the email bird pest. They were compelled to sow a larger quantity of grain per acre, and frequently paddocks of cereals which gave promise of good yields were, owing to the depredations of birds, hardly worth cutting. The birds also did great damage to fruit trees. Mr Ashwell (Invercargill) objected to poison being used. It was a dastardly, cowardly system, and the Ministers that introduced it nere a bloodthirsty Ministry, The birds were useful in picking up the seeds of weeds. Mr Murray (Ashley) considered the ' small birds did more barm than good in taking the seeds of weeds from one paddock to another. The Premier, the Native Minister (Mr Bolton) and Mr Smith having spoken, the debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Haines. The rules were further considered in Committee, and finally passed. The meeting then adjourned till Tuesday next.