CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1423, 6 July 1883, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

SCAB. [to the editor waiiurapa daily.l Sir,—lt may be in the recollection of many of your readers that about two years ago a meeting of Sheop owners was called at Carterton to consider the spread of scab in the Wharcama and East Coast Districts, the result of which meeting was that certain changes were made in the Department, and it was confidently predicted that scab would bo stamped out in six months, but instead of that desirable end being attained the district is in a more dangerous state than it was two years ago. Reports are freely circulated seriously affecting the official reputation of the Sheep Inspector in charge. As a simple matter of justice to that Officer, and in order to satisfy sheep owners that the large pastoral interests at stake are not unduly imperilled by an incompetent officer, those interested in pastoral matters should request the Government that an enquiry be held into the administration of the Department for the last eighteen months, I believe that many sheep owners will agree with me when I say that the only sure remedy for the present state of affairs is .a complete change in the present manner in which the business of the Department is conducted also that all officers holding appointments, or who may wish hereafter to enter the service as sheep inspector, i should be obliged not only to produce [ satisfactory testimonials that they have

had opportunities of acquiring a practical knowledge of their work, but they should also be obliged to pass an examination by a Board of Examiners appointed for the purpose. As the colony must for many years to come, depend mainly on pastoral pursuits, it would be worse than folly to neglect anything that would guard those interests from loss, Judging from the present state of affairs it is just possible that many thousand fat sheep may be shut out from the market next season, just when they are wanted to fill up the vessels chartered by the Meat Freezing Company. I am tfec, East Coast.