The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 1895. THE STOCK ACT.

Feilding Star, Issue 123, 22 November 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 1895. THE STOCK ACT.

O The recent convictions and heavy fines inflicted by the Stipendiary Magistrate on persons who exposed diseased cattle for sale, makes the study of the Stock Act now in force of unusual moment to farmers, dealers, and others interested. The principal provisions are as follows : — Every person who slaughters sheep, the meat of which is intended for human consumption, boiling down or meat preserving, must on or before May 14th in each year forward to the Inspector of Stock a return of the number of sheep so slaughtered during the 12 mouths ending April 30th, under a penalty of not less than £1 nor more than .£2O. Compensation for destruction of stock by the Inspector is provided for as follows :— Full market value of the animal if it is f juud not to be infected by disease, twothirds of the market value, if diseased ; but no compensation whatever shall be paid if the animal'is infected with any oi the following diseases :—Actinomycosis, cauccr, mange, rabies, tubercolosis or any tumour or growth which is of a ujaliguaut or recurrent nature, and such :-is to render unfit lor human consumption the flesh oi milk of the animal suffering therefrom. The limit of compensation is— for horses, ± c 2O per head ; cattle, £8 ; sheep or swine, ±3 ; other stock, £1. Every owner of long wool or crossbred sheep must dip all his sheep between February Jst and April 30th in every year, tbongh tho Inspector may, on sufficient cause being shown, grant an extension of time for 31 days. The penalty for non-dipping is not less than 3d nor more than 2s per head. A brand is defined as follows :— " A wool-mark, made with pitch, tar, paint, raddle, or lampblack mixed with oil or tallow, in plain and distinct letters, figures, or otherwise, not less than three inches in length, on the sides, back, shoulders, hips, or rump of the sheep, in conjunction with any one of the following marks, that is to say— (a) An earmark, plainly and distinctly made by cutting, splitting or punching the ear, but so that in ac ease shall one-fourth of tbe ear be removed ; ot (b) a metal clip affixed to the ear; or (c) a tattoo-mark, plainly and distinctly imprinted on any r part of tbe skin ; or (d) a fire mark, made on the born or face." Special provision is made for tbe recovery oi sums payable under the Act, the cbieJ r feature of which is that should no defence be filed at least eight days before the day of hearing judgment shall be - givea fot the amount claimed without allowing a«y defence, and without the necessity of tiie nominal plaintiff oi anyone on his behalf appearing or proving the liability of the defendant.