CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1068, 8 May 1882, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SHEEP INSPECTOR

_ TO THE EDITOR. Shi.—lt is now nearly fifteen months ago since a meeting of sheep owners was called at Carterton to consider the spread of scab in Whareama and East Coast. How the gentlemen calling the meeting should have become so suddenly alarmed I atn at a loss to understand, as scab bad certainly not increased during the previous nine months, but was being got under. Bather more tbar a year ago, certain alterations were made in the Sheep Inspector's Department, and a gentleman who was introduced to the sheep owners of Wairarapa South as an energetio young man, and one of the best Inspectors in the service, was placed in charge of these Wo sub-divisions, It was confidently stated by the gentleman who conducts the correspondence (Mr D. Maunsell) in the Sheep Inspector's Office, Wellington, that a few months would see a very different state of affairs among the flocks of Wairarapa. What has really been the results] Until within the last two months the list of infected flockß has been nearly double what they were before Mr Sutton's appointment. Whether the present list will prove a very .satisfactory one remains to be seen,

Under date, Ist April, Mr Sutton published a list of Inflected Fiooks, and'certifies the same to be a true and correot return. The 7th Scah Seotion Interpretation Clause of the Sheep Act 1878, defines infected sheep, old sheep which have been infected until a olean certificate shall have been granted for the same. I have good, reason to believe that the sheep on several runs were omitted from the list of infected flocks published by Mr Sutton under date Ist April. One I know from my own knowledge did not at that time hold a clean certificate. The owner of those sheep had sold a number of them. The purchasers even went to take delivery, and when Inspector Drummond examined the sheep, he found one or more scabby sheep in the flock. This case might have proved as serious a3 that which happened lately in the Patea district. Under the 12th section of the Sheep Act 1878, Mr Sutton has made himself liable to a penalty of not less than twenty pounds nor exceeding six calendar months, for making a false report, In the "Daily" of the 28th April I noticed the following:—" Sheep on the ran of Mr J. V. Smith, 'Grass'endale, are notified as being infeoted sheep," when in reality they have not held a clean certificate since 20th April 1080. A commission to enquire into the working of the Shoep Act in the Patea distriot was asked for by the Sheep owners interested, and the commissioners report will no doubt be published. I think that it is high time there" was a commission of enquiry in this district if such irregulari:ties'as',l have mentioned take place, enquiry would show that there is a very

I loose way of conducting the Sheep Ifr, | specter's duties at presont, and likely to result in a very serious loss to the 6heep owners in the Wairarapa and East Coast I write feelingly as I have already lost more by the spread of Bcab than I can well afford, and I don't know how it may v end. It will.certainly mean ruin to more than one of us unfortunate sheep owners if a clmngo for the better does not soon take place. lam ready to prove my statements either at a meeting of sheep » .- owners or at any other meeting, or if Mr Sutton sends a written denial of "my statements to the " Daily office," I will give up my name and meet him in any way he thinks proper,

Inm&c, Sheep Owner. [Our correspondent is hardly fair towarda' Mr Sutton, who, as a Civil Sorvanf-, is preoluded from noticing attacks ifl the publio press. The proper course wd&l, have been for " Bheepowner" to offioially report the Inspector if, as he alleges, he has a case against him. Then Mr Sutton would have an opportunity of meeting the charges brought against him.-ED.W.D]