MASTERTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2323, 17 June 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

• '■■»' • A GENERA! meeting of members was held yesterday. Present Messrs R,., S. Hawkinß (President) D. Carman, R, R Meredith, J. Muir, F. Gray, B. P. Perry, S. Tanored, Summer,. A. ,W.. Hogg, R. D. Dagg, T. A, Lyons, D. 'Cameron, J. Rayner and others. The Presidont said the annual meeting was fixed in Augußt. It .was rather, late, but they would have to hold it on the day fixed. The question of the fine upon Mr R, Cobb was considered, and Mr; G. - Beetham's letter notifying the Parliamentary Committee's recommendation of its remission was read.

Tho President said it was a great satisfaction to think the Society had had any hand infringing about a remission of the fine.

In reference to the Wool Growers Association the President was sorry to say it had not received tho suppoit it deserved. The farmers had not interested themselves in it, and whilst he regretted the.apathy of the wool growers he could not agree that'the farmers were not interested. AH who were interested in progress—the progress of the colonywere interested in it. The reoent vißit of the Japanese Commissioner to the colony was t proof of how important such an

association would\be to the interests of Now Zealand. The Japanese were beginning to use woollen clothing, and wanted to make their own aloth. They were anxious to open ut,, a trade with the colonies, and .tho Australians were already busy.doingall they could to introduce their staple commodity. If a particular class of wool were Introduced from Australia, and machinery obtained specially to work it, they would find great difficulty in getting the.olass of wo»l grown in New. Zealand taken up there. He could not but regret that no action had boen taken in the proposals submitted by the Buar'l of Trade. He hoped it was not yet ton late. Japan was actually importing; wool at the present time from 'America. MrR,R, Meredith uiidetatoodagreat deal of assistance had boen given to the Australasian Wool Growers' Association by New Zealand, and subscriptions and samples of wool sent. • The President said probably that was the case in other parts, but he was alluding to this district. : Whathe wanted topoint out was that fclw. opportunity had been offered this Association to co-operate in that imjmrtant undertaking and they had simply dropped it.. They failed to grasp its importance. .

vMr R, R. Meredith thought that if post cards had been sent out stating what the business of the meeting was for, there would have been a large attendance at the last meetinst to discuss so important a subject, instead of allowing it to lapse. He moved that.all future meetings be called by circular, in addition to the advertisement, and the business to be brought forward stated therein. The motion was carried.

• Mr Meredith throught'in respect, to scab that they should take steps to get the district proclaimed a clean one. It had been reported clean by Oliief IuBpector Bayley in his report as published in tho Gazette. It wiis a matter that affected the welfare of their Association, and came quite within their province to take in hand. An attempt had been made some time ago to get a portion of the district declared clean. But the law was that no district was clean that vas within thirty miles of an infected district. He wanted to see the whole of Wellington district declared a clean one, as it was free from s,cab. He moved That steps be taken to have the Welling ton District proclaimed a clean one, the Chief Inspector, Mr Bayley, having proelaimed it perfectly clean from scab. Mr B'P. Perry seconded the motion which was carried unanimously, A further resolution moved by Mr D, Cameras was carried. '- That a memorial be at once forwarded to the Colonial Secretary in accordance with the foregoing resolution, and the Wairarapa Pastoral Association 'be acquainted with their intention and asked toco-operate." The President recommended thatthey should unite in getting new members. He thought lists of members should be printed and circulated amongst members.

Mr Dagg said the Farmers Club would probably, amalgamate with their Societyas a great many belonged to both, and he thought the work might bo done by one Society. '' Mr Carman proposed and Mr Tancrod seconded that the names of the members be printed and circulated amongst the •■members-with an intimation that they try and augment the list.—Carried. Mr R. Meredith thought the action the Inspectors wera taking in harassing sheep owners over the Lice Act demanded an expression of opinion from that Society. He moved—(a) That in tho opinion of this meeting the operation of the Sheep Act, 1878, Amendment Act, 1884, relating to • the eradication of lice us administered in the Wairarapa is ineffective as regards .tho object sought; interferes with the free exchange and sale of stock; is vexatious, oppressive; and in the highest degree prejudicial to stock owners, (b) That this meeting rrould strongly urge on the Government and Legislature, tho desirability of abolishing the Act in question, and.substitute it by inserting a clause in the sheep Act providing for the compulsory dipping of all infected sheep once every autumn under tho supervision .()'. competent practical men not necessarily Inspectors of the Department whose certificate shall enable owners to travel with or dispose of his stock for twelve months from tho date of issue, (c) That copies of thesoforegoing resolutions bo forwarded to the Honorable the Premier, the Hon. Mr Buckley, and the members for the district with a roquost that they receive early consideration." Ho had no doubt many of those present had had practical experience of the harsh way in which the Act was carried out. He objected principally to compulsory diping at unsuitable seasons also to the interpretation put upon the Act by Inspectors. If one infected sheep was, found the Inspectors compelled the whole' of the flocks to be dipped although divided from each other, whereas tho Act and its interpretation distinctly pointed to only the one flock. He then referred to special cases that had come before the R. M. of great hardship. Mr T, Lyons endorsed the remarks of the last speaker. He drew aeomparison of the working of the A«t in tho North and South Islands,- anv said it should be made more workable here. Asa drover and trader he had experienced mu«h difficulty in trying to evade the Inspectors .-and keep clear of them. (Laughter.) Mr Carman, in seconding the motion, said he had 20 or 30 years' oxperienoe with sheep, and he did not consider Hce in sheep injurious to them. As soon as they sheared the alwep they became clean and the lice came arain in the fall. He thought the Act should be reislnded, and if scab was abolished then the Inepcotora should be abolished with it. (Laughter.) Mr ; R.,,Dagg thought it should be inVisteTou that the Department should' give an opinion which was the beßt dip to use in cleaning the aheop. He had dipped ia March last, and when he brought sheep to the salo irnd one was found infected he was fined. He supported the resolution, Tho President said he believed entirely in the first part of the resolution. He thought the'-Aet was not iu fault, but the administration. It was one of those unfortunate cases of Inspectorial activity two or three months too late, It waß the |.same in dealing with the rabbits. There was a lull at the time the most activity should bo shown by the Insjwctors, and when no man could possibly do anything with the rabbits, runholders wero prosecuted all round. It was a wanton piece of cruelty. If the Inspectors wore not te •blame for neglecting to look after rabbits in the proper season because they were ongaged on sheep work, then the Departmont.was in fault in trying to work the two things together, The act Baid if sheep in a flock were found'infected then the Inspector should direct sueh Bheep'to be dipped. That did not mean the whole flock, unless they found infected sheep in every paddock,; He agreed that autumn was the best Jjme to dip tho Bheep, but \vas it necessary to dip all sheep. There was no ganger of sheep in good condition and f going on to good grass getting infected. •>.'.■•',■••' Mr Meredith thought the 'Government should assißt srmll settlers by erecting dips at convenient .places' for their use, and making a small ckarge .■ if .necessary, instead of compelling each one to erect a dip for himself. Mr Rayner thought all sheep, whether fat or lean, should he dipped once a year. (Hear I hear.) Mr B, P. Perry spoke in ?favor of the Inspectors, and the waylthey carried out the Act. He thought it should be com-

pulsory to dip all slump once a year, Using the right dip not .wuy. detstiWl the insects, but preVenteo>the sheep fjn ■ catching'them from others. ■ j Mr Dagg said it was the .Apt, not the Inspectors, that was lib fault. l ' • Mf.'.Buick suggested &■■■ m<jrith-Bay s April—in. which all should l dip their . heep,- and then the Inspectors should nspect the flocks, and issue (Certificates .when clean. , / . .:,? ' / .-. . After some further disoussion.. the motion was put and carried. This "■■juu: eluded the business. '.J'