MEETING OF SHEEPFARMERS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 173, 3 July 1884, Page 2

MEETING OF SHEEPFARMERS.

A CoiunTTEE meeting of the above took place at the Masonic Hotel yesterday afternoon, to revise and make the necessary arrangements for having their petition forwarded to Wellington. Mr. Chambers occupied the chair. Mr. Common explained that the object of their coming together was for the purpose of having the regulations at present existing in Auckland, requiring all sheep to be dipped there on arrival from here, abolished. He might mention that he asked Mr. E. Cameron who went up to Auckland a short time ago, to see Messrs. Hunter and Nolan and Mr. Buckland, and ascertain if they would work with them in their representations to the Government. He had received a telegram from Mr. Cameron, in which he said, “ I have seen the parties—Buckland and Nolan. Can do nothing by order in Council. Annex us to Auckland will do.” From this he inferred it would be necessary that they should be considered a part of the Auckland district. He was always under the impression that they were a part of it. Mr. Chambers said they were under the Auckland sheep district. Mr. Bruce said that was not so. They were under the Hawke’s Bay district, because they had its black brand. Mr. Common was going to say that they should alter their present arrangements, which appeared to be that they were connected with Hawke’s Bay, and connect themselves with Auckland. It would be as well to do that if it-would relieve them of the regulations. The Chairman now read the petition, which was presented at the last meeting. Mr. Bond explained that the , sheep on landing in Auckland were first put into secure paddocks, and from those paddocks they wore taken and put through the dip, ai.d then into the yards for sale. That was even before the ten days mentioned in the Act. If sheep were sent from here, and were going into the market that afternoon, they would be run through the dip in the morning, and then put into the saleyards. Mr. Newman thought the owner could object to have them dipped. Mr. Bond said they could object, and that was all. Mr. Newman said their petition would be no good, because if they put sheep in the yards they would become infected, as the Auckland sheep were infected. Mr. Bond said if they put sheep on board a boat, then they would have to be dipped. The Chairman thought that vessels should be duly licensed to carry sheep. Mr. Common concurred with that, Mr. Bruce suggested with respect to fat sheep going from this place, they should be sold undipped, and if they did not go into the hands of the butcher, then the buyer could dip them. Mr. Bond considered that the dipping process was only a poll-tax on them, and nothing more, Mr. Common said it had been proposed that the district should be taken from Hawke’s Bay and annexed to Auckland; they might embrace that in their petition. Mr. Matthewson thought that would require a Bill. Mr. Bruce said it could be done by an Order in Council. Mr. Matthewson said all this could be obviated by a strong representation to the Government, Mr. Newman asked if they, being in the Auckland district, were not supposed to be infected, us the Auckland district was infected, although their subdivision was clean. That was the reason that Napier sheep were not dipped, and their’s were. Mr. Bruce said they did dip the Napier sheep. Mr. Bond was of opinion that it was an oversight on the part of the Government in not taxing the ships that carried sheep, in the shape of licenses. Mr. Common stated that the Inspector said that 8,000 sheep instead of 6,000 were sent away from here. It was decided to alter the words at the bottom of the petition, making it read, “ in the same position as we hope to ba placed in,” and to add the following to it, “ that fat sheep coming from this place to Auckland should be sold undipped, and if they did not go into the hands of the butcher, then the buyer could dip them,” and “if the local inspector in Auckland should give a more liberal interpretation to the Act by allowing fat stock from the East Coast to be put through the yards without dipping, so long as he is satisfied they are intended for slaughter.” The Chairman proposed that a committee be appointed to draft the petition. Messrs. Matthewson and Common to be the committee. If they found it necessary they could employ a man to take it round and get it signed. This was resolved on.

The chairman said it might be advisable to forward a minute of their proceedings to Napier, and' he would write and ask certain persons down there to call public meetings to the same effect as this one. Mr. Matthewson said they should communicate with Mr. Luckie, the secretary of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society. It was agreed to do so. Mr. Common thought they should represent to any member of Parliament, interested in this place, and request them to forward their petition. There wore, for instance, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Carroll, and the member for this place, and also Sir George Whitmore, with the Napier members. They were all interested here, and could help them a great deal. Mr. Bruce suggested that forms should be made out, which he would take with him to Auckland, and get the consumers there to sign them in favor of the petition. On further discussion it was agreed to carry out the foregoing suggestions, and on the motion of the Chairman, five shillings each, were put down to meet all preliminary expenses.