PARLIAMENTRY NEWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4495, 5 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTRY NEWS.

ins STOCK BILL. The Stock Bill, whiou is under the charge of the Minister of Lands, is divided into six parts. The first part deals with the gene" ral administration oE the Act, the regulation of tho duties of Inspectors of Stock, Kegislrars of Brands, etc, imposing of ties, etc, The maximum penalty for any offence shall not exceed £SOO.

It is provided that any bspeotcv may deolare the place is infected where disease exisis, or may kill one or more animals to decide whether an infectious or contagious disease prevails, or may destroy any diseased stock, To prevent the spread ol disease, quarantine-grounds may be defined for the detention of imported stock, and any person who wilfully causes to be introduced into the Colony the virus of any disease may be imprisoned for any period not exceeding two years. Any owuor who suspects his stock to be diseased, must give notice of the fact.

There shall be no compensation for stock destroyed, Penalties are to be imposed lor the driving of stook which are diseased, An occupier may detain and .ixaraine any travelling cattle on bis land, but shall give notice to an inspector, and for any vexatiouß detention, the occupier may be held responsible for damages. If any inspector is satisfied of the presenile of disease, ho must givo notice to the owner, • The occupier of any land whioh has been declared infected, because of the presence of diseased animals, may claim compensation from tbo owner of Buoh stock,

Brery owner must dip his sheep annually, between February and April. There are penalties for removing sieep affected with lice or foot-rot, or for keeping them in public yards. The Bill provides that every owner shall pay annually on or before August 1, the sum of 2s for every 100 sheep, Returns of the number of sheep are to beiurnißued annually, People driving stook across runs aro to give notice, aud shall not travel at a slower rate than five miles a day. Stock shall be driven on a highway or Crown lands in the daytime only. In Part V, there are proviiions for brands and branding. Homes or cattle running upon securely fenced land need not be branded, There is special provision for a new earmark, to be made with a punch or nippers, The sixth part of the Bill deals with legal procedure. Schedule C of the Bill describes the agemarks whioh are to be burned on thenose.

' Tlio Election Bill was further con* sidored in committee in (he House of Representatives laab night. There waß considerable discussion on the question of granting eleotora' rights to shearers, an amendment to that effect being at length rejected, .The provision in the Bill giving these righto to commercial travellers was then attacked, but was retained after an animated debate. The Mining Act Amendment Bill in an amended form, containing only one clause, wliioh provides that the title to any claim or licensed holding shall not be rendered invalid by reason of being dissevered by any road, river, or stream, was passed by the Lower House. .The Legislative Council passed theilheviot County Bill and Ward Conservation of Rights Biil.-ft.& Times.