20 



Mr. J. M. ATKINSON seconded the motion. 



Mr. FREEMAN said that, as tlio proposer of this amendment, he would like to explain its object. It 

 appeared hero " the Governor," which usually meant the " Minister for Lands," might, by proclamation, 

 dissolve the Babbit Board. It might be a very undesirable thing for the Minister to have this power, and 

 it was so that the Minister for Lands should not have this power to dissolve the Board without a requisition 

 that ho moved this amendment. It might be that they might become insolvent, or for other reasons want 

 to dissolve ; or again, the Board might be unsatisfactory and the voting power of the district might wish to 

 have them dissolved. 



Mr. OAKDF.N (Cobar) moved, as an amendment, "That that clause be omitted altogether." Power 

 could not be given to the Minister to do away with the Pastures and Stock Boards, and therefore this was 

 ultra vires. It would mean that the Governor might by proclamation dissolve the Pastures and Stock 

 Boards. 



Mr. A. BROWN (Narrabri) thought that this difficulty could be got over by amendment, that when 

 the Pastures and Stock Board is sitting as a Eabbit Board they should be a corporate body. There was no 

 doubt that if the Pastures and Stock Board were to administer the Rabbit Act they would administer the 

 Pastures and Stock Act also, but not at the same time ; and when there was a meeting of the Pastures and 

 Stock Board called they would deal with stock matters only, and then afterwards sit as a Eabbit Board. 



Mr. ALISON (Canonbar) thought Mr. Brown was beside the point. What was before them now was 

 Mr. Freeman's motion. It was a very simple matter and he could see no objection to it. If two-thirds of 

 the voters wanted to have a Board dissolved then they should be dissolved. 



Mr. A. BHOWN (Narrabri) said that they should not dissolve the Pastures and Stock Board also. 



Mr. ALISON (Canonbnr) thought that if two-thirds of the voters could be found to wish that the 

 Eabbit Board should be dissolved it would mean that they were all unfit for public offices. 



Mr. Freeman's motion was then put to the Conference and declared carried. 



Mr. FREEMAN moved that, in line 28, clause 8, after the word "Board," to insert "elected in 

 accordance with the provisions of the Act." His reason for moving this was so that no Board would bo 

 reappointed in the place of a dissolved Board, except a Board elected by all the taxpayers. 



Mr. FLANAGAN ( Gunbar) seconded the motion. 



Question put and carried unanimously. 



Mr. OAKDEN (Cobar) wished to ask members whether it was wise to allow this clause to stand, 

 wiping out a Board under another Act, which was what naturally followed. Would it not be better to 

 leave that out ? It might be establishing all sorts of anomalies. 



The CIIAIHMAN said that that had been already decided, and there could be no more discussion 

 about it. 



Clause 8, as amended, was put to the meeting and carried. 



Clause 9. 



Conduct of its business by a Board. 

 9. A Eabbit Board 

 (a) may employ a Secretary and such other officers and servants as may be necessary, and 



pay them out of the revenue of the Board ; and 

 (J) shall cause proper minute books to be kept of all its proceedings ; and 



(c) shall cause true and regular accounts (o be kept of all moneys received or paid under the 



authority of this A.ct, and shall give the owner or occupier of any private holding within 

 the Eabbit District access thereto at all reasonable hours ; and 



(d) shall produce for inspection to any person authorised by the Minister or the Colonial 

 Treasurer for the purposes all its books, accounts, agreements, vouchers, letters, or 

 other documents which may relate to any matter under this Act ; and 



(<) shall report to the Minister on any matter or question referred by him for that 



purpose ; and 

 (/") shall conform in its conduct of business and its administration of this Act to any 



Eegulations to be made in that behalf. 



Mr. OAKDEN (Cobar) moved, "That clause 9 be struck out, and the following clause substituted : 

 That the provisions for the conduct of the business of the Board should accord with or be similar to 

 those of the Pastures and Stock Protection Act." 



Mr. BIIETT (Urana) seconded the proposal. 



Mr. GIBSON (Hay) would like the proposer to explain in what way the procedure under the other 

 Act was different. 



Mr. ALISON (Canonbar) pointed out that it would be the same Board under the same Secretary, 

 but that they must needs keep different books. He would wish however to give notice that he would 

 move the recommital of this clause subsequently, because it might be affected by a later clause. 



Mr. OAKDEN (Cobar) withdrew his amendment, and then proposed that " Pastures and Stock 

 Board" be substituted for "Eabbit Board" wherever it was consequentially necessary throughout the 

 Bill. 



Mr. BRETT (Tirana) seconded the proposal, which was carried unanimously. 



The Honorable KUPERT CAIUNGTON proposed that the words " all officers appointed to be under 

 the direct control of, and hold office during the pleasure of the said Boards " should be put in after sub- 

 section (a). As they had to " pay the piper " they might as well have the appointment of the officers. 



Mr. GORMAN (Kerrigan) pointed out that that was provided for by "the Eabbit Board may employ 

 a Secretary and such other officers, &c." 



Mr. TAYLOR wished to take the Chairman's ruling as to whether the adoption of the Honorable 

 Eupert Carlngion's amendment would not mean a virtual amendment of the Public Service Act. 



The CHAIRMAN did not think it would be out of place for the Conference to express an opinion 

 on the matter. 



Mr. CUMMING (Hillston) seconded the Honorable Eupert Carington's motion, which was carried 

 unanimously. 



Mr. ALISON (Cauonbar) gave notice that later on he would move an amendment to the next 

 subsection (c). Clause 



