SCAB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1433, 18 July 1883, Page 2

SCAB.

Below we publish by request a letter which formerly appeared in our columns on the scab question :

Riversdale, Whareama, April 29th, 1871, The Honorable Robert Campbell Chairman Legislative Council Committee, Wellington..

•Sin.—After a careful examination of tho proposed Act, relating to sheep, I have in compliance with your request, interleaved my remarks upon such of the clauses as appear to me to most demand reconsideration. I feel at the same time that I should fail in my duty, if I did not state my emphatic conviction, that while the proposed Act is not in any way calculated to effect the end desired, it i will probably bring ruin upon individuals, and it is certain to be fruitful of much needless illfeeling, and discord, among a class which it is so desirable to unite in a common bond of friendship. All legislation with the view to.the eradication of scab, has signally failed'in its object, because the root of this evil has never been looked for, much less struck at. Sheepowners have never, been assisted by legislation to rid the flocks of their province of a pest which each has individually made strenuous efforts to eradicate.

Tho proposed Act, like all its provincial predecessors,'relies upon penalties alone for effecting/.ita objectintroducing no remedial principles, without which it mustiprove'equally abortive. The main reasons'why scab has;jnot long since been, stamped but are—lst, the flocks are riot kept apart; 2nd, there is no [combined action onjthe p|rt of the settlers to get-rid of it! ■>'■> ir A stringent : ,f Fencing 'Act"' would do, more to anihilate the disease than any "Scab,;Act"ibat/iaß yetbYcfame law, and a Dipping 'Apt w6uld)ehsure : it, And 1.-.would urge on the attention of. the - Committee the great importance of so framing a "Sheep Act" that it should stimulate fencing. I have the honor to submit for your

the leading; features of ,an A|tMioh I think would accomplish jjhe en|aifiied at by "your,■' comtnittee, pd .|su|i commend, itself s to the 'colony'at v large as being not only susceptable of general application, but as affording protection to the owners while it, is devoid of vexatious or injurious interference with the owners of diseased flocks, "••-■l;—Provinces"-to- bo divided into sheep districts. 2.—Any district in which scab shallexisfc to be -gazetted an " Infected District." :■'■"'•• '■■■'•■ ';

3.—Every occupier in infected district to provide proper appliances and materials for dipping on or bofore (date to be fixed by Gazette notice), Materials to be prescribed by the Act, as also quantities sufficient for two dips in proportion to strength of flocks, [N.B. A discretionary power should bo giyen to the flookowner to choose from a lis 1 ; of. recognised specifics.] I 4.—Every flock in infected district to be simultaneously mustered, say between Ist and 4th January, and again between 2 Ist and 24th March. .s.—Every flock, when so mustered to be inspected, and to be declared elean or diseased. Honorary Inspectors would be necessary. 6.—A1l infected flocks to be dipped between, say Ist aud 7th January, and again between 21st and 27th of March. Strength and tomperature of dip to bo prescribed by Act, 7.—Flocks so dipped to be kept in a secure paddock or otherwise be prevented from joining updipped slieep and from going back upon their run for at least ten days. B.—Within seven days of being dipped to receive a second dip. 10.—Flocks found upon inspection to be clean to be exempt from dip; and to receive clean certificates—as the case may be.

15.—N0 person to place scabby sheep upon an unstocked run, unless such run be securely fenced against contiguous owners.

■ Having submitted the foregoing clauses calculated to stimulate fencing, and so to circumscribo tho range of scab, I must call the serious attention of the Committee to the fact that one of the great strongholds of scab in some districts is the unoccupied forest land of the Crown, in which are numbers of unmarked wild sheep which are known to lie scabby, and which from time to time come out and join adjacent flock. If flockowners aro called upou to fence against the Crown the Legislature should, in common justice, make provision for half the cost of such fencing. Indeed, without substantial aid the expense would be beyond the means of many settlers. I have, (fee, Edwin Meredith