TEMUKA PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1375, 6 August 1885, Page 2

TEMUKA PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

The weekly meeting of this Association took place last Tuesday evening. About 20 members were in attendance, and in the absence of the Speaker, the Chairman of Committees took the chair. In reply to Mr W. F. Hargi eaves (Rodney), the Premier stated that the Government intended to place a sufficient sura on the Estimates to provide for the Kakabu district being thoroughly tested as to its coal-bearing capabilities. Replying to Mr W. P. Hargreaves (Rodney), the Premier stated that it was not the intention of the Government to propose guaranteeing Messrs Meiggs and Son the sum of £97,000 per annum for 20 years in the event of their constructing the East and West Coast Railway on the terms offered by the Syndicate. The Government were now considering the subject of the construction of the line, and would bring down their proposals during the session. Mr Wills (vYaimate), asked (without notice) whether ladies would be admitted as visitors during the debates ot the Union.—The Premier replied that as far as he was aware the only objection was want of sufficient accommodation. —An objection being raised, it was decided that Mr Wills should bring the matter up in the shape of a resolution at the next meeting of the Union. A number of questions were then given notice of, one of them relating to cottage hospitals, another to reduction of postage rates, and a third to the prohibition of all processions. The debate on the resolution re the destruction of small birds was then resumed by the Hon. W, Gaze. In the course of a long speech replying to the arguments adduced against the motion, he said that he had got the returns of the number of birds and eggs destroyed in the Counties of Ashburton and Geraldine during the last year, and paid for by the Counties. (Returns read). Despite this enormous destruction he was informed that the birds were this year more plentiful than ever. Many farmers in the district had informed him that they had to sow half as much more seed than they used to do. This, however, was but a small part of the loss, as he believed that it was now the custom of farmers to almost ignore the stooks near the fences, or at most use them for the top of the stacks. This proved the destructiveness of the birds. Birds increased much more rapidly in this country than in England, and it would be impossible under the present state of things to compass the wholesale slaughter of birds so gloomily foretold by tile Member for Waimate. As regards the destruction of insoctiverous birds, if they did not eat grain they would not be destroyed. The measure only provided that it should be in their power to compel farmers to lay poison more systematically than at present, ns it was well known that birds migrated from those places where poison was faid. He had not spoken to a farmer who was against the proposal. The motion was then put and a division was called for, when it was negatived.

On the motion of the Hon. the Premier the House went into Committee on the Laborers’ Homes Bill. Clauses 1 and 2 passed with but little comment but clause 3 met with vigorous opposi lion. Dr Hayes (Geraldine) moved that the clause bo struck out altogether, and spoka strongly against the measure. Messrs Lee (Mount Egmont), Brynre (Christchurch East), and Ashwell (Invercargill), opposed the clause and urged the House to throw out the measure. The Premier made a vigorous defence of the Bill, and at its conclusion the clause was retained on a division. Clause 4 then came on for consideration and progress was reported with leave to sit again. The proceedings then terminated.