LIVE-STOCK AND RABBITS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1892 Session I, I-11

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1892. NEW ZEALAND.

LIVE-STOCK AND RABBITS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Brought up 28th September and 7th October, 1892, and ordered to be printed.

INTEBIM BEPOBT. Your Committee have the honour to report the resolutions of this Committee on the resolutions of the Agricultural Conference held at Christchureh on the 26th and 27th May, 1892, a copy of which is attached hereto. 28th September, 1892. F. Lawey, Chairman.

Monday, Bth August, 1892. Besolutions of the Committee on the resolutions of the Agricultural Conference held at Christchurch on the 26th and 27th May, 1892 :— Resolved, on the motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie, — No. 1. Passes for Judges attending Shows. —That the Government should approach theßailway Commissioners, the Union and other steamship companies, with a view to securing railway passes and passages at single rates to the judges attending agricultural shows. No. 2. Agricultural Department. — Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That it is desirable that the Agricultural Department should be thoroughly equipped as soon as practicable, and that a Journal should be issued periodically, containing matter of interest on the subject of New Zealand agriculture. No. 3. Entomologist. — Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That it is desirable that steps should be taken in the direction indicated in the memorandum of the Christchurch Conference on the subject of an entomologist, either in conjunction with the adjoining colonies or separately, as may be found desirable. No. 6. Agricultural Teaching in State Schools. — Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That the introduction of elementary agricultural teaching into the State schools, especially in country districts, is a matter of the highest importance, and deserves the earnest consideration of the Government. No. 7. Scholarships. — Besolved, on the motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie, That the Education Department be requested to communicate this resolution to the various Education Boards of the colony. No. 8. Adulteration of Manures. No. 9. Noxious Weeds. No. 10. Sheep-tax collected. No. 11. Abolition of Sheep-tax. —-The Hon. the Minister informed the Committee that these subjects had been dealt with by the Government. No. 13. Quarantine Charges. —The Minister explained what the department proposed to doin the matter. The Committee expressed its pleasure that it is proposed to establish a new scaleof charges in the matter of quarantine. No. 17. Irrigation. — Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That the obtaining of expert advice on the subject of irrigation is exceedingly desirable, and that the matter be referred to the Government for consideration. No. 18. Insecure Packing of Arsenic. — Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That the matter be referred to the Government for their consideration, and that the suggestion contained in the resolution be communicated to the Bailway Commissioners. No. 20. Proposed Intercolonial Stock Conference. — Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Mackintosh That the question be referred to the Government for consideration.

BEPOBT. Youh Committee have the honour to report that as many important matters as possible have been considered, affecting the agricultural and pastoral interests of the country, although it is to be deeply re retted that the press of other committee-work rendered it impossible for the members of your Committee to devote the care and attention to the subjects submitted that their importance demanded; and, in this connection, your Committee strongly recommend the Government to set up a Committee next session whose duties shall, as far as practicable, be confined to matters pertaining to agricultural and pastoral pursuits.

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Your Committee have much pleasure in congratulating the House and the country on the complete extermination of scab, and are of opinion that Mr. Bitchie, the officer in charge of the Stock Department, has acted wisely in causing the late exhaustive inspection of D'Urville's Island to be made ; and the official report of no vestige of scab being found there will strengthen the hands of the New Zealand representatives when urging a full recognition of a "clean sheet" in this colony, so far as scab is concerned, by the Australasian Stock Conference, which will for the first time hold its sittings in New Zealand, during the present month. Your Committee also congratulate the House and the country on the general immunity the colony enjoys from cattle and sheep diseases; but the settlers must realise that these are gradually, but surely, becoming less as the result of close stocking and existence under more artificial conditions. It is deeply to be regretted that no effective check has been given to the disease which has destroyed so many of our sheep in Tauranga and other districts. The vast importance of obtaining a proper diagnosis of this and other diseases has caused your Committee to recommend the Government to secure the services of a highly-qualified veterinary surgeon, and are pleased to report that the Minister of Lands has promised to accede to their request. Your Committee are also glad to obtain the assurance of the Government, through the Hon. the Minister of Lands, that it is their intention to secure the services of an entomologist, and strongly urge them to do so at the earliest possible opportunity, as the insect-pest is increasing with appalling rapidity. It is also very satisfactory to be assured that the Government would endeavour to thoroughly equip the Agricultural Department, and periodically issue a journal of the proceedings for public instruction. Your Committee strongly recommend the Minister of Education to take steps to introduce •elementary agricultural teaching in the State schools, especially in country districts; also to make scholarships obtainable by pupils in the State schools, which could be available, if desired, for Lincoln College. In considering the question of quarantine, your Committee are of opinion that the present regulations are too cumbersome, and much too costly; they were therefore pleased at obtaining the assurance of the Government that the subject would receive the careful consideration, of the department, and that reforms would be speedily effected. Your Committee took no evidence in regard to rabbits, with the exception of that of Mr. Eitchie ; and from his statement it is inferred that in some parts of the colony there is no diminution in their number. After carefully considering the matter, your Gominitttee passed the following resolutions: — "I. That, in the opinion of this Committee, rabbit-tinning factories can only be worked profitably when the Babbit Act has been allowed to become almost a dead letter; and that the Government should take immediate steps to deal effectively with the rabbit-pest in all parts of the colony. "2. That, in the opinion of this Committee, when the Babbit Boards in the colony are not ■carrying out the provisions of the Act under their charge, the Government should take immediate steps for the abolition of such Boards." 7th October, 1892. F. Lawby, Chairman. {Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation (not given); printing, (1,160 copies), £1 3s.

By Authority: Geobqe Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB92. Price, 3d.]

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