INSPECTION OF STOCK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1430, 3 May 1912, Page 8

INSPECTION OF STOCK.

'".EXORBITANT AUSTRALIAN FEES. •V NEW ZEALAND BREEDERS' .C'OM- : • I'i.AIXT. ■ -.- A well-known New Zealand slieepbroedcr, Mr.'Joseph Dowthwaite, ot A\aiinate, who lias recently bad-some experience of the Conimomvcalth regulations in regard to stock imported from New Zealand, expressed his views as- uiuler in a letter to the "Sydney Morning: Herald;: —"As a breeder of stud longwcol rams in New Zealand, and"'a large exporter of somo annually to Australia, I beg ,_to enter a - strong protest against (ho inspection fees ivhich have recently- been imposed bv tho Federal Government on all stock ' cattle, and sheep) -imported from the Dominion to the- Commonwealth. . Prior to 1912 New Zealand breeders of all stud British rams had quito enough to contend with in paving the heavy charges (i.e.,' freight," feed, insurance, commission, attendance, wharfage, otc.) on sheep, amounting to about 20s. per bead. Now the Federal Government levy a charge for stock inspection of os. for tho first sheep and 2s. per head on balance, on the Sydney wharf, equal to' 3 per cent.'to -1 per cent, on tho average value of each sheep. My agents in Sydney in 1911'rec'eived about 3IJOO sheep from the Dominion, which would now mean a total'of X'3oo. for inspection from one firm alone. "IP is a well-known'.fact that there aro only a few longwcol breeders in New South Wales, and owing to tho varied seasonal conditions the average number of pure longwcol rams bred locally is very small, aiid finite unequal to tho demand; in fact, fully, three-fourths of the longwool rams are imported from New Zealand. Prior to my leaving New Zealand threo weeks go this question was discussed. by many leading breeders, and strong exception, was taken to the chargc. The imposition means that breeders will only.forward their culls or inferior sheep, ami the evil results will be soon reflected in inferior and bad quality lambs in Australia. How can Australia hope to secure a good name in the Homo markets for good quality frozen mutton and lamb if it closes its gates to high-class sires? New Zealand is essentially; the homo of longwool stud sheep, which have established a good name and value for New Zealand frozen mutton and lamb in England. Take the latest London cabled quotations:—New Zealand frozen lamb, 53d. per lb.; Australian, 4sd. per lb. Again, it will bo found that New Zealand breeders will refrain, as a form of protest, from exhibiting stud sheep at the Sydney annual sheep show and fair, an event that draws worldwide attention. Heretofore sheep from tho Dominion in the longwool section havo been tho-mainstay of these fixtures. At tho last Sydney Show I personally' exhibited stud siiecp, and returned them to New Zealand at a heavy expense. The New Zealand Government placcs no embargo on the Australian merino. "I understand the policy in Australia is for closer settlement. Now, tho farmer or small man is tho man with small means, and the breeding of crossbred lambs is one of Hie chief items in his annual returns. Is it. also the policy of the Government to force him to breed from second-rate rums, and so lessen his returns, and also dcpreciato tho quality of Australian frozen mutton and lamb? I olso venturoi to say (hat th&=e exorbitant fees will tend to retard New Zealand farmers from settling in Australia. Only this month a neighbour of mino removed the .pick of his sheep (280) and horses (12) from New Zealand to a farm lie had recently purchased in Australia. The cost of forwarding was naturally hcavv, yet he is charged with stock inspection' fees amounting to=E27los. Is this ally encouragement to settle in Australia, anil U a nian who is introducing superior, stock ? "X trust some abler pen than mine will follow this matter up. It is a serious thing for Australia if the settlers cannot import tho best Now Zealand stud sheep, and so iniprovo-its stock, and (he quality nnd reputation of its frozen mutton and lamb, .-in the Iloino markets,"