A. AND P. CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1512, 21 July 1905, Page 2

A. AND P. CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. The third day’s sitting ef the Agricultural Conference began this morning. The President (Mr Wilson) thought the Conference would conclude to-morrow. Mr Eeakes, assistant chief veterinarian, read a paper on equine . horeditary unsoundoeas, in the course of which he said it was undoubted that there were far too many unsound stallions in the colony. Taking the oolony as a whole the position was unsatisfactory. Legislation seemed to him to bo the only means of stamping out unsoundness. A discussion followed and it was resolved—“ That the Government be asked to giva premiums to owners of approved pure thoroughbreds and pure draught stallions, to enable stockowners to travel their horses in certain districts and serve a certain number of approved mares at a reduced fee,” The Conference resolved—“ That the Department of Agriculture be requested to open an official register in various centres of the colony in which entries shown to bo free from hereditary disease after examine lion by a duly qualified veterinary surgeon could be entered on payment of a reasonable fee, a certificate of unsoundness to be issued to the owners of animals so passed. “ That steps be taken to ascertain what is the best kind of humble bee to import for fertilising red clover,”

IMPEOVEMENT OF STOCK. I ■■ ■ XP&r Press Association.) Wellington, last night. At the Agricultural Conference Mr Eeakes, assistant chief veterinarian surgeon, read a paper on equine hereditary unsoundness. Taking the colony as a whole he considered the position was unsatisfactory, and breeders ought to set about making a change. No stallion which was known to be unsound should be allowed to travel for service. His experience of Now Zealand taught him that the farmer was too casual in auch matters. Mr B. Boid (Canterbury) moved that the Government be BEked to give premigms to the owners of thoroughbreds and pure draught stallions to enablo such owners to travel tnoir horses in certain districts and serve a certain number of approved mares at reduced fees. Carried. Mr Stuckey moved that the Department of Agriculture be requested to open a register in the various centres cf the colony, in which entire horst.3, shown to be free (rofrj hereditary diseases after examination by duly qualified veterinary surgeons, should be ontered on payment of a reasonable fee, a certificate of soundness to be issued to owners of such animals. Carried.

Mr D. D. McFarlane moved that steps bo taken to ascertain whet Is She'besi kind of bubble baes to import- with a view of fertilising the red clovers of the colony. Carried.

Mr Gilrutb, Chief Veterinarian, read a paper on tuberculosis, iu the course of which he «rggu giuCifownors to do what they could to prevent the spread of the scourge.' The paper dealt qt length with the relajiona of human and bovine tuberculosis. As far as tuberculosis io animals is concerned, Nelson and Marlborough were the healthiest provinces, and Oamaru came very close. Taranaki was the worst. Ashburton was very healthy. Dairying was the greatest .indirect cause of the sproad of tho disease, because owners were always anxious to keep milking cows to the last moment. The disease amoDgst pigs, which was tho most serious, was undoubtedly due to feeding on tubercular milk. Tho pasteurisation of skim milk should be made compulsory.

EesolutioDs were passed as follows: That local bodies in districts where small I birds are a nuisance bo compelled to pur- i chase heads and eggs; that all land planted with approved forest tress should be exempt from rules ; that all areas of alluvial land that have been dredged and worked out as sawmill areas should he planted with forest trees ; that Government be urged to onoourage the extension of telephones in rural districts; that Government be asked to abolish the sheep tas,