THE SYDNEY STOCK CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1514, 18 November 1886, Page 1

THE SYDNEY STOCK CONFERENCE.

Mr 6. S. Cooper, She official delegate representing New Zealand at the recent utock conference held in Sydney, has forwarded his report to >'the Colonial Secretary. " The roost important question for discussion," the report " was that of the importation of stock from • places outside. the. Australian colonies, which' for,convenience sake we termed ' foreign stock.' Upon.the question of removing the prohibition the conference was divided, but the proposal. for removal was carried by ten votes against eight, the votes' for. being—. Queensland 8, Tasmania 3, New Zealand 3, and New South Wales 1, while those against 1 were—Victoria 3, South Australia. 3, New South Wales 2 It was accordingly resolved that, in the opinion of the conference, the prohibition, agiiost the importation of cattle and sheep fr >m the United Kingdom uiaj, under proper restrictions, be removed, and that the Governments of-the several colonies be recommended to give effect to the resolution. It was determined to recommend that goats, deer, and swind, should still be prohibited. It was considered that no alterations were necessary, in the regulations at present controlling the importation of horses. For dogs a aiz months' quarantine was advised. A resolution was passed as to camels, which does not interest the people of this colony. The report continues: "With regard to the interchange of stock batweeD the colonies of Austra'asia, the recommendations of the .conference, which especially affect this colony, are that no sheep shall be introduced' into any colony from any other colony in which scab exists, and that no colony shall be deemed clear until scab has ceased to exist-therein for a period of 12 months." On the question of diseases affecting stock, a series Of .resolutions was' passed, and , much valuable information was elicited, and papers were read on tbe'Bubject. The rabbit question was very fully debated, and much valuable information was interchanged. In Aui* - tralia fencing is the most'eftWtual mode of arresting the spread of rabbits, and it is now in contemplation to fence the boundary line between the;-colonies of New South Wales and Queensland, There they have no mountain torrents and no snow, and have but litHe broken country, which gives them in the mH t er of fencing a great advantage over New Zealacd. The natural enemies, however, which are found in Great Britain will not succeed in that country. It,followed that no resolution could be. arrived at applicable to all the coiomes'inie'rested in the question, except one ; which re- ' commends that a large reward be offered by the colonies' collectively lor some meina of destruction more searching and fatal in its effects than anything at present known. Upon this point the conference was unanimous, and strong and confident hopes were expressed that the Governments of the aeveril colonies would act vigorously in the matter. Upon the "above subjects und others of miner importance the cbnfeience passed in all 49 resolutions,' manylotwhich do not affect New Zealand; The subjects treated upon by these resolutions are all of much interest to breeders and owners of stock, and hopes were expressed that such' steps as msy be. necessary to give rffect to the recommendations of the conference, whether by moans of- legislation, Orders-in-Council,-or otherwise as may be > required, will be taken at date by the Governments t < t of, the various colonies of .the Australasian group,