SCAB IN SHEEP.

Patea Mail, 15 March 1882, Page 3

SCAB IN SHEEP.

“ Agricola,” writing in the Auckland Herald, says : : . , In New Zealand scab in sheep is thegreat Cncmy that lias to be guarded against—an enemy that should be dreaded, every precaution being taken to - keep sheep clear of it. Occasionally it breaks out in districts, spreads amongst the flocks, and is not eradicated without a large amount of trouble and expense. Fortunately, with care and proper treatment, it can be stamped out ; and better still, if cannot break out spontaneously in any flock unless the germs or eggs of the scab insect have by some means obtained a lodgment on. the sheep. It is possible for scab to get into a flock and be there some time without the owners having the slightest idea that their sheep are affected. But if inspectors carry out their instructions and attend to their duties by visiting each sheep fun, large or small, eveiy year, the scab may not have spread very much in a flock, although a few sheep maj' be infected.

: The Sheep Act passed in 1878, and which is now the law of the land, might have been called just as appropriately the Scab Act, for the clauses relate principally to scab

The Sheep Act provides for the appointment of inspectors, and these officers are invested with immense authority and power ; and, if. so disposed, they can wield this power to the terror and discomfiture of all those who do not obey their mandates, and follow out to the very letter their instructions. Indeed, the sight of an inspector approaching his house may be enough to strike terror into the heart of a small sheep-farmer, especially if said farmer has some slight misgivings that he has a scabby sheep in bis flock. Now, it seems somewhat remarkable that, notwithstanding the number of inspectors and sub-inspectors, and the powers with which they arc invested, there should be such a number of scabby sheep at present in the colony. By the latest returns published, scab is more widely spread than it has been for some time. 400,000 sheep in Marlborough are. reported as scabby ; 120,000 in Wellington are in the same condition ; while in this province the number of infected is 10,000, Nelson having about half that number. As it is impossible for scab to break out. spontaneously in any flock, there must have been a great deal of carelessness on the part of the servants of Government who are supposed to look after this matter, whose chief business is with scab, and who are generally well paid for their work; I allude to inspectors. There is no difficulty about the question, “Who is to look after the sheep-farmer if he is not carrying out the : provisions of the Act, as he ought to ?” Inspectors are not slow to pounce upon the settlers when they can get the chance. But there is considerable difficulty in answering the question, “Who is to look after the inspectors if they neglect their duties, and allow scab'to exist in flocks for a considerable time, and nobody know anything about it ?” The 19th clause of the Order-in-Council made by the Governor on the 17th April, 1879, and which is as binding as any

clause in fixe Sheep Act, runs in this style

—“ In any case the inspector will visit every station on his subdivision once at least a year, and ascertain the state of the health of the stock, and how the various provisions of the Acts or llegulations under which he is appointed are being carried out.” The wisdom of a clause of this character, and the necessity of its being faithfully carried out by inspectors, is apparent; There are numbers of settlers in this country who keep sheep, but who are in complete ignorance of scab, who never saw it, and could not really say of their own knowledge whether an infected sheep were scabby or not. How important, therefore, that ,a competent person should visit every flock atjeast once in the twelvemonth, to ascertain the state of the sheep. : It is .about time that, inspectors awoke; to their duties and responsibilities, and about time that sheep-farmers paid some attention to this matter, and saw to it that the clauses affecting inspectors are not dead letters. If they have reason' to believe that any inspector is lazy or negligent, or is incapcitated from properly disF charging the :, duties of his office,'they should memorialise the Government to appoint some person who will act conscientiously, and fulfil his obligations like a man. . .

i It may be added that the prevalence of scab in Auckland province is a serious loss in many ways. - Cattle being so. low in price, some settlers would like to go into sheep-farming, but they are really afraid to purchase just now, lest they get infected stock. I t is.-to. be hoped, however, that not not only such-steps will be taken as to speedily eradicate the disease, but that more care and vigilance'will be exercised in the matter of inspection.'