Williamson Maurice: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
Williamson Maurice: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:632;Page:3837] 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (National—Pakuranga) 
: 
 I often use Garrick Tremain’s cartoons as a guiding mentor in life. I find them to be particularly insightful about what is going on in the world of politics. One of the best cartoons I have ever seen that pertains to this legislation depicted an old farm ute driving along the road with three dogs on the back. The first dog says: “We’re off to town to get microchipped so that if we ever bite the kids in the town they’ll know who we are.” the second dog asks: “But when do we ever go to town?” and the third dog says: “We go there to get microchipped.” That is how crazy this legislation was for working farm dogs that do not ever go to town other than to get microchipped—in the process of which they might jump off the ute bite a kid and then get blamed for it. 
I am delighted that some common sense has prevailed in this Chamber tonight. It is very unusual for that happen in this place but it has happened tonight. We at least have a small victory. I do not understand for the life of me why Labour Ministers were hanging out so strongly to include all dogs in the microchipping provisions of the bill when it was absolute stupidity to have farm dogs included in the microchipping process. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Why did the member vote for it? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: I did not vote for it. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Yes you did. 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: Oh no I did not vote for it at all. I am one of those who believes that microchipping will do nothing for the safety of anybody. 
I found that out when I learnt that in order to read the microchip the dog officer cannot just get the scanner stand 20 or 30 metres back ask what the dog’s number is and then maybe push press a button and the dog explodes. No the dog control officer has to hold the dog down and rub the scanner over the fur until he or she can find the chip because the chip—as the vets told us—can move. 
 The vet says: “Nice pooch nice pooch; let me find your chip.” This is a dog who has just mauled some kid in the park ripped pieces off his or her flesh and has blood dripping from its mouth. I can see an ordinary dog control officer saying: “Oh yippee! I can chase another savage savage vicious beastly dog across the park hold it down get out my wand scan over its fur and try to find its chip.” How stupid! No one believes that will protect children like Carolina Anderson—no one. Absolutely not! 
A number of other measures could be taken that would make at least a small inroad. But I say to the Government that most legislation such as this covers law-abiding citizens who would comply. They would all trundle off to the vet pay their $100 and do everything they are supposed to. But it is not their dogs that are the problem. Some vicious half-breed mongrel dog that has been kicked beaten whipped with a chain badly fed and is sitting at some Mongrel Mob headquarters will be the dog that goes out and does the attacking. And guess what? Members of the Mongrel Mob will not even know this legislation has been passed let alone do anything about microchipping their dogs. So what are all the law-abiding citizens out there doing spending their $100? 
No wonder the Veterinary Association backed this bill. Self-interest is alive and well. The Veterinary Association thought this legislation was a good idea. Why? The reason is that every dog represents $100 for vets. How good a deal is that? Laying aside all personal and private interests—not on your life! But like the gun laws and a whole range of other laws this legislation covers the 99 percent of people who are law-abiding and who get all the costs and all the impost. And I am yet to hear one member of the Government say how a vicious wild beast running through the bushes in the parks of Auckland after having mauled a little girl will be stopped or how that problem will be fixed. 
The first question is to ask how this legislation will stop another Carolina Anderson incident. We all know that was dreadful. We all feel badly for that family and for that girl and we would love to do things about it. I do not think there is a member in this Chamber who would not love to do things that would prevent that sort of attack from happening again. But I say again that not one thing in this bill—especially the microchipping side of it—would ever ever have prevented it. So now Cabinet’s No. 3 Jim Anderton who made a promise to farmers—“Do you not understand where No. 3 is relative to No. 18?”—then comes along buckles to pressure and votes for it. He has actually had it completely gazumped. Government members must be highly embarrassed.