THE STOCK CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1410, 18 November 1886, Page 3

THE STOCK CONFERENCE.

The Stock Conference which was held recently at Sydney discussed many subjects of great importance to farmers in the colonies, and the deliberations of such a body sitting periodically could not out result in much good. Mr G S Cooper, who officially represented New Zealand at the Conference, has just presented his report to the Colonial Secretary, and it contains much that is of interest. The Australasian colonies were variously represented at the Conference; New Zealand had four delegates. New South Wales three, Tasmania three, Queensland two, Victoria one, and Western Australia was not represented. The hrst question was that of how votes were to be counted. Mr Cooper, in his report, says that he proposed that each colony should have one vote, bui this proposd was not carried. It was a mutake that it was not so, for an undue preponderance was given to Victoria, which colony was represented by the Chief Inspector of stock, who was not accompanied by any representative of the breeding interest, and gave a block vote upon any subject upon which opinions differed. Mr Cooper states that the most important question the Conference had to c nsider was that of the importation of foreign stock, that is to say of the importation of stock into one colony from places beyond the group of colonies. The Conference was not agreed as to whether the prohibition to importation should be removed, but a proposal as follows was ultimately carried by ten votes to eight : —“ That in the opinion of the Conference the prohibition against importation of cattle and sheep from the United Kingdom may, under proper restrictions, be removed, and that the Governments of the several colonies be recommended to give effect to the resolution.” The Conference sett'ed a draft of regulations under which sheep and cattle should be admitted to the colonies, as a recommendation to the various Governments. It was determined to recommend that goats, deer, and swine should still be piohibited. It was considered that no alterations were necessary in the regulations at present controlling the importation of horses. For dogs, a six months’ quarantine was advised. With regard to the interchange of stock between the colonies of Australasia, the recommendations of the Conference which especially effect New Zealand are that no sheep shall be introduced into any colony from any other colony in which scab exists, and that no colony shall be deemed to be clean until scab has ceased to exist therein for a period of twelve months. On the qestion of diseases affecting stock, a series of resolutions was passed and much valuable information was elicited, and papers were read on the subjects. The rabbit question was very fully debated and much valuable information was interchanged. In Australia fencing is the most effectual mode of attesting the spread of rabbits, and it is now in contemplation to fence the boundary line between the colonies of New South Wales and Queensland. There they have no mountain torrents, no snow, and have but little broken country, which gives them, in the matter of fencing, an immense advantage over New Zealand. The natural enemies, however, which are found in Great Britain will not succeed in that country. f • followed that no resolution could be applicable to all the colonies interested in the question except one, which recommends that a large reward be offered by the colonies collectively for some means of destruction more searching and fatal in its effect than anything at present known. Upon this point the Conference was unanimous, and strong and confident hopes were expressed that the Governments cf the various colonies would act vigorously in the matter. Upon these subjects and others of minor importance the Conference passed in all f.»rty-nin resolutions, many of which do not iffect New Zealand. The sul jct reared on are of much interest t breeders and owners of stock, an« oopes were expressed that the various colonial Governments would take steps to give effect to the resolutions passed by the Conference.