§ 27. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REIDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the number of recent cases of fish mortality caused by the effluents of cheese factories; whether, in this connection, he has considered the invention of Mr. J. Macoine, of New Zealand, of a method of dealing with this type of effluent by which the whey is run on to waste ground with the result that this fluid, although it may at first burn up the existing vege- 997 tation, encourages in a short time a luxuriant growth which is sought by cattle in preference to untreated pasture; and whether, if inquiries are satisfactory, he will recommend this method to the proprietors of cheese factories?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the remainder, no report of any experiments by Mr. J. Macoine has come to my notice, but the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has published the results of its investigation of the method of land treatment referred to, which has not been successful in all cases. The question of the disposal of milk waste has been under investigation by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for some time.
§ Captain CUNNINGHAM-REIDWill the Minister of Fisheries recommend this method of fattening cattle to the Minister of Agriculture?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI think that I am quite able to keep the two sides of my head in communication with each other.