The Invercargill Times FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 4, 22 May 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1863.

The present high price of meat in Southland is severely felt, especially by the working classes, ,-.nd, under existing regulations, we may expect that price to be very considerably augmented when spring shall have added some thousands to our population. A dread lest pleuro-pneumonia should find its way into the Province has caused the importation of Australian cattle to be prohibited, and that prohibition has operated to raise the price of meat to one shilling per pound. We have here, then, the actual evil of dear meat to set against the possible evil of pleuro-pneumonia. We are suffering the first, and are only in fear of the second ; but granting the disease to be so great a scourge, where it appears, as to warrant the strongest measures in order to keep it at a distance, it has yet to be shown that the present regulations are calculated to have that effect. It is perfectly true that Victoria has suffered to a very considerable extent from the ravages of pleuro-pneumonia. There are, doubtless, many cases in which men have been totally ruined within a few months after it has first shown itself in their herds, and we should therefore be amongst the last to advocate the admission of cattle into this Province without certain restrictions. We contend, however, that some

portion of the present indiscrimi- )' nating rules are inflicting a positive injury on the community, without ] adding in the least to the security ) of the Province against the disease. 5 Gipps Land is a part of Victoria which Vis very peculiarly situated. Cut off \ from the remainder of the colony by l natural boundaries, only to be passed ' at certain well defined spots, its settlers have had every opportunity for keeping themselves free from what has caused so much loss in other places. They have, as might be expected, taken advantage of the situation ; they hare used strenuous exertions to prevent the breaking out ofthe disease within their boundary, and they have succeeded — no one instance of pleuro-pneumonia having made its appearance. Inspectors are stationed at the passes, and all incoming cattle have to undergo a thorough examination — those from some districts not being admitted atall ; and the consequence is, that the district i " clean," and likely to continue so s Now, the Southland regulations prohibit, under any circumstances, the admission of Gipps Landcattle, although for the last three years Tasmania has allowed importations from that district to the extent of upwards of 5,000 head annually. The Province of Otago also has received stock from Port Albert, in Gipps Laud, for two years, without any bad effects, and at the present moment is asking the Government to remove the prohibition from the other ports of Victoria, as well as Twofold Bay in New South Wales; and it seems probable, as far as the latter place is concerned, with, a fair chance of success. No case of pleuro-pneumonia has ever been traced or suspected amongst tbe importations, either to Otago or Tasmania, and the fact that in the latter colony the supervision is very strict, must lead us to the conclusion that the imported cattle have, in every instance, been sound. It must be apparent to anyone that if Gipps Land cattle are allowed to find their way into Otago, the Southland regulation concerning the former place must be utterly useless, as long as there is no Act to prevent the driving of cattle from one Province into another. We are told Gipps Land cattle may be diseased, and are, accordingly, refused admittance ; well, what is to hinder the owner taking them to Otago and driving them from that Province into this ? The answer is — nothing ; the thing is done every dav, and the absurdity of the regulation is at once made manifest. If the disease is introduced into Otago, there is nothing to prevent its making its appearance here, and the only effect of the regulation is to take from Southland the benefit of direct importation. But not only is there the simple expense of the extra distance and delay, but shippers are unanimous in their opinion that the worst part of the passage from Gipps Land to Otago is after passing Invercargill Heads. We are assured on competent authority that the greater proportion of the losses take place during that part of the voyage, and it is evident that the per centage so lost raises the price of every pound of meat consumed. We have to thank His Honor the Superintendent for his recent proclamation admitting Tasmanian cattle; but that is not enough. Tasmania is not equal to the demand which will be made v ;on her. Nothing but a permission to import from Gipps Land will have the desired effect. ln the meanwhile Southland butchers are killing young stock for which they have to pay exorbitant rates, and are obliged to charge their customers accordingly. Those customers can fully appreciate the difference between sixpence and a shilling, and a good many will move to where the smaller figure rules. We have great faith in the old English custom of public meetings ; if properly conducted, they generally have a good effect, and, as an index of popular feeling, are invaluable. Let us have a meet ing, and hear what people batfe Io say on this important subject.