PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9671, 20 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF KEfRESENTATIVES,

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 18 The House resurrud at 2.30 o'clock. The votes, Land for Settlements (£7,948) and State Forests (£22,916) were passed. At the Scenery Preservation vote, £10,425, Mr Russell moved to reduce the item £2.500 compensation for ] lands acquired along the Wanganui Kiver by £2,499, as a protest against ihe waste of time in discussing the vote. Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) declared that all the flow of eloquence about the Wanganui River, indulged in by Mr Hugan, was intended to block the Defence Bill. Mr Hogan. in reply to Mr Taylor, denied the latter's charges.

The amendment was lost on the voices, and the vote was passed. At the vote Department of Agricluture (£184,581) the Minister, replying to Mr Pearce. said that the poultry export depots would cease to exist and that in future they would be carried on to assist in local trade in a way that would enable them to pay their way. The Government poul try farms were now working on the credit side. - Mr W F. Massey entered a protest against experimental farms coming into competition with private individuals. As a protest against the laxity of the methods of the department in connection with preserved meat, Mr R. H. Rhodes (Ellesmere) moved to reduce the item £3,755 for meat inspectors' salaries by £l. He said the recent instance which came under his notice indicated that meat unfit for human consumption had been allowed to leave the country for Australia. the Minister said that the matter had already received attention. All the inspectors had to do was to see that the meat was free from the quality of preserving or otherwise not coming within the scope of their duties.