SCAB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 854, 24 August 1881, Page 2

SCAB.

(To the Editor Wairaiupa Daily.) .'. i East Coast, August 8,1881. Sin,—Tho couiuiitteo appointed by the sheep-owners who met at Carterton a few months ago to consider the spread of scab in the Whareama and East Coast, during their interview with the Premier, stated that they considered the appointment of a chief inspector for the colony was very much needed. . There can bo uo doubt if such an appointment .was nade that it would, tend more than anything else that has been dono yet. .to assist in eradicating scab throughout the colony. But it will be a most difficult matter to find a suitable porson to iill such an appointment. Ist. tie must be a thoroughly practical man; 2nd. He must be a man not at all likely, to pet from impulse or allow any verial statement to influence his official acts: 3rd. He must have sufficient confidence in his own judgment to consider, when a case requires, that he should to a certain extent exerciso his own discretion; 4th. When he has ouce made up his mind as to the proper course of action, he'should pursue that course with the utmost firmuess, and so avoid the pitiful exhibition of having hastily issued an order that he found it.impossible to carry out; sth. He must be a man perfectly competent to superintend all office work; 9th, He must bo a gentleman iu every sense of the word.

A person possessed of tho above qualifications would gain not only the confidence of the sheep-owners throughout the colony, but what would prove of tho greatest importance, he would gain the confidence and respect of the officers who were acting under him, and who would consequently pay a cheerful and ready obe.lienoe to his instructions, feeling confident that an intelligent and energetic performance of their duties would be recognised. A' gentleman possessed of the above qualifications would require a handsome salary—at'least £BOO a year. That amount could, I.think, be well spared from the assessments received from sheepowners, but if not, the extra money would be hardly f' e lt !jy the sheep-ownci;s'throughput ihe colony; but with suoli an officer at tho head of tho Department I feel satisfied, a vory considerable saving might be'effected, which would go far towards makiug up tho amount of bis salary. Such an appointment ought to be made independent of all political changes. I don't think that there are any gentlemen at present holding office in the Department pbuses&d of the'qualifications necessary for such' ah/ anpoiiHment. They are either p'raotioal moii, without any knowledge of office work, or they have the sufficient knowledge of office work without sufficient practical experience, Were the Government to advertise iu all jho leading papers their .intention of making such an appoinfnijjnt thpy might bo able to : "seteot Mn the 1 appiicfiiitfra suitable person,' I feel : certain' tlfat a large majority bf slieep'-'ownera will agree with me that such an appointment is very much wanted, The indecision and irregularities that have been so frequent of lato would Jje avoided, ft is beyond a doubt necessary that J i' sljeep inspector should discharge his duties with firmness and impartiality, but jt is also beyond a doubt il}a't 'unreasoning isfiverity wjlj do more harm than good!''' " '"' I am, &c,, Soot.