The Westport Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, NOV. 1, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue XXXIX, 1 November 1892, Page 2

The Westport Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, NOV. 1, 1892.

Kqual rind exact lustice to all men, Of whatsoever stace or persuasion, religious or political. ~

Tiiehe is every reason to hope that (he Stock Conference which is sitting in Wellington will be productive of good results. This can hardly fail to be the case as the delegates are all skilled io the questions with which it is proposed to deal. The programme which the Conference has arranged is a comprehensive one, and it is proposed to draw up regulations bearing upon the different heads with the view of getting them adopted by the Australasian governments. The following is the list of subjects for consideration :—l. Regulations regarding the introduction of foreign animals or foreign diseases—that is, diseases not known in Australasia. 2 : Regulations regarding the introduction of Australasian animals —(a) by sea, (b) by land. 3 : Regulations regarding disease— (a) ■■ scab, (h)catarrh, (c) fluke, (d) worms, (e) foot-rot, (f) anthrax, (g) pleuropneumonia, (h) tuberculosis, (i) stringhalt, (k) coccidium, and actinomycosis, (I) prurigo (horse mange, Queensland). 4 : Rabbit pest. 5 : Chilled meat trade. 6 : Stud-book for Australia. A most important resolution as regards this colony was agreed to after a long discussion. " That after next shearing of flocks in the last infected district, and if on inspection, such flocks be found free from scab, the Conference recommends (he various Australian governments to remove restrictions, and that intercolonial steamers carrying sheep shall not be liable to be inspected." If this resolution has the effect of removing ail restrictions on the export of sheep good must result to New Zealand flockowners. For some years now breeders of high-class sheep have been debarred from disposing of their animals to breeders in the other colonies who otherwise would have proved good customers. If the restriction is removed there can be no question but a considerable trade in rams will be done ; not only that, but in addition a demand will set in for our fat sheep, for which there will be a considerable request for the high-class trade in the Australian cities. A resolution has also been passed, urging upon the Tasmanian Government to allow cattle from New Zealand to enter that colony without being subject to quarantine. This is a reasonable request, as no disease exists in the herds of this colony. The resolution that each colony shall maintain a competent staft' of Inspectors for the purpose of preventing the introduction and spread of disease, is the natural corollary to the proposal to remove restrictions. It goes without saying that the rabbit pest came under discussion, based on this occasion on a paper read by Mr Coleman Phillips. The Conference confirmed by resolution the principle that the responsibility for the presence of rabbits must rest on the leaseholder, the State accepting a similar responsibility for unoccupied Crown lands. The Conference affirmed that the presence of the rabbit pest has made the cjntinuance of the system of an annual lease of Crown lands impossible. It also expressed the opinion that no finality in rabbit destruction will be obtained without making the ereetion of rabbit-proof fences compulsory. It suggest that the Department administering Rabbit Destruction Acts should be empowered to permit the fencing of holdings in groups ; the Conference affirms that simultaneous operations for the destruction of rabbits in infested country with netting 42 inches wide, three feet above and six inches in ground with a mesh of one and aquarter form a practical and efficient barrier against the increase of rabbits ; that the system of trapping bv professional trappers is radically bad ; that legislative measures should be taken compelling landowners and lessees in infested districts to join in the erectionof fencing and to make additions to existing fences. We have given prominence to the proposals of the Conference in order that they may be considered by individuals and clubs iu order that the necessary pressure may be brought to bear on the legislature, either in the direction of forwarding or opposing the measures proposed.

Tiik following article which appeared in a late issue of the Sydney Mail will be read with considerable interest at the present juncture when tho results predicted by it have practically come about: —" The whole question as to the constitution of the second Chamber has been revived in iSfew Zealand by the action of the present Government. The Legislative Council in that colony amended or rejected some of Mr Ballance's most trenchant measures. He retaliated by proposing to make so many new nominations as would practically swamp the House. The late Governor whose term of office was nearly at an end declined to commit himself to such a course and allowed the difficulty to stand over for his successor. The new Governor by way of a compromise offered to nominate half the number but this was not acceptable and the whole matter has been referred to the adjudication of the Secretary of State. A telegram which lias been subsequently denied, represented that the Marquis of Ripon had instructed the Governor to take the advice of his

Ministers, and another telegram, whii:li lias not been denied, states tlmt he will probably send a despatch similar to that forwarded to Victoria, when the constitutional quarrel was fierce in that colony. The one thing that is quite certain is that there will bo no possibility of .settling the qturrel in opposition to the deliberate and declared will of the people. If the Ministerial measures are really popular, they will have to become law, and the Upper House will cither have to oonsent to them or submit to be swamped. But it would certainly be wrong to perform the latter operation until the will of tho people had been clearly manifested. The situation in New Zealand clearly shows that nominee Houses have no power of sustained resistance. They can criticise and they can arrest a dangerous measure for a session, but they cannot withstand a popular madness that lasts over a year. * * * In Victoria and South Australia Upper Houses are elective and in the latter colony the electorial qualitication is so low that the Trades-Unionists have had no difficulty in sending their representatives there. The principal inconvenience of having an electorial House was shown in Victoria when a prolonged deadlock resulted from the antiigonisni of the two Houses, leading many persons to the conclusion that some safety valve was needed to prevent a permanent deadlock. In America, however, the Federal Government and all the States Government are worked with two chambers, both being elective, and in all cases the Upper Chamber has a perfectly free hand in amending money Bills. * * * American experiences have been decidedly in favour of two Houses, aud in favour of having them both elective. If in New Zealand the Legislative Council is swamped, the result will probably be a strong reaction of feeling in favour of making the, second House elective." To show how correctly our Australian contemporary guaged the position, we give an extract from the address delivered by the President of the National Association of New Zealand at the annual meeting lately held in Auckland. When referring to the Legislative Council Mr Batger said : " The position of the Legislative Council is a subject of anxious consideration. Your council have gradually come to the conclusion that in order to preserve the clue influence of the Legislative Council it is necessary to abandon the system of nomination, and to place the Council oil a firmer basis than at present. Reform in this direction would strengthen the ties between the Council and the country, and would remove the danger of the Council being coerced in the exercise of its functions. Its future constitution and the steps most proper for bringing about the desired change will cause much discussion, but you will be invited at an early meeting to form an opinion upon the whole subject."