PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1205, 18 March 1880, Page 2

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

A deputation from the meeting of farmers aud settlers recently held at Otahuhu consisting of Messrs. Goodfellow, May, Bainbridge, and Robertson, writed on the Hon. >r Whitaker on Monday, to lay before the Government the resolutions adopted at the meeting. The depntation was introduced by Dr. J. L. Campbell. Mr Goodfellow, having informed Mr Whitaker of the proceedings of the recent meeting, said there existed a good deal of anxiety among the settlers on this subject. They wished that all necessary steps should be taken to prevent the spreading, and, if possible, to eradicate the disease. The Attorney-General, in reply, said : — The deputation must be aware that call the power given by the Act resided in the Cattle Board. They were in a position to do everything, with but one exception. It was doubtful whether the Act gave them the power to destroy cattle. A request was made that I should draw up a set of regulations. This I did, and sent the draft of them to the Cattle Board at the earliest possible moment, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they would answer the purpose, These regulations have been returned to me, with some further suggestions, to which I have given effect, and they are now in the hands of the printer. Since pleui'o-pneumonia has been in the country, I have lost no time in endevouring to deal with it. I have spent much time in conference with the Cattle Board, assisting fchefn all I could to grapple with this cattle disease, and giving them what advipe I could. Anything that I can do, or the Government can do, shall be granted, even to the strongest measures to suppress this pleuropneumonia. If you can tell me what I can do further, I will consider it, and endeavour to give, effect to is, if it is wise and feasible. Mr Maunsejl js #ie gentleman entrusted by the Government with the carrying out qf the necessary arrangements under the Sheep and Cattle Acts, and he will be able to" tell the deputation what has been done in the matter, lam not awaye that; the Government can do any more fo» you thai} hag been done, Mr Maunsell has been sent up lieue in order that there may be full information on the spot to enable the Government to act as occasion may require. It did appear to me that the district was inconveniently large. I consulted the Cattle Board, and suggested that it should be divided, It was also reegmmemded that thevo should be a«ldiHo»'« maclu to thQ

Cattle Board of the Auckland division. The names of Mr Dilwo<th, and Mr Wallace, of Otahuhn, were suggested, and those gentlemen have been added to the Board. I wrote to the Farmers 1 Association, Cambridge, and requested that they would send me the names of those whom they thought proper to serve on the Board for their division. I thought the Chairman of the Waipa County Council and the Waikato County Council should be placed on the Board, making the number five, which is the limit — a Board cannot consist of more than five, or less than three persons. I devoted some part of yesterday (Sunday) to these regulations, and I hope that the gentlemen forming the deputation will not think the worse of me on that account. There has been scarcely a day for the last three weeks that I have not been in constant communication with the Cattle Board, having interviews with skilled persons and others interested, receiving and attending to suggestions which they might make. That is how the matter stands at present. If you can tell me anything more that I can do, I shall consider it carefully, and give effect to it if possible. As I have already informed you, the draft of the regulations are in the hands of the printer. There appeared one thing wanted, — viz., to define how long cattle should be kept in quarantine. The time was indefinite, and the Board might keep them, there any time they pleased. A request was made that the time should not exceed 42 days. This has been arranged. It was said that 30 days must elapse before the new regulations could be brought into opeiation. I have considered that question, and I am prepared to take the risk of bringing the regulations into operation as soon as possible. The "30 days" applies to special regulations introduced by the Governor, modifying the general regulations. lam of opinion that general regulations can be brought into force forthwith. These that I am now speaking of are general regulations, and may be brought into operation 48 hours after being signed by the Governor. I trust you will keep your Cattle Board up to the mark. The whole must rest entirely with them. The first step to be taken is that the Inspector should declare in his opinion a district or place to be infected ; the Board then have power to examine witnesses, and to come to what resolution they may think proper. Their decision must be forwarded to the Governor, who would have the power of overruling it if he saw fit. The Board have full power to make any investigations required. I have not thought it necessary to raise up two establishments — one for "sheep, 1 and another for "large cattle"— and therefore two sets of inBpectors will not be requisite. The sheep inspector will become the cattle inspector. He and the 80-* rd will have fnll authority to employ as m my veterinary surgeons as they think necessary. Mr. Goodtellow: We thank Mr. WhitaI? er for his explanation. We think it is so far very satisfactory. Mr. Whitakpr; Mr. Maunsell will be able to tell the deputation what proceedin as have been taken to cany out these arrangements. Mr. Maunsell : The proclamation dividing the cattle distriot of Auckland, as at present constituted, into three new districts—viz.: 1. The North Auckland Cattle District, compri my the Counties of Mongonui, Hokiangi, Bay of Islands Whangitrei, Hobson, Rodney, Waitemata, Eden, ManuVau, Coroman<lel,."nd Thames, including cities and islands therein and adjacent thereto. 2. The south Auckland Cattle District, comprising 1 the Connties of Raglan, Waikato, Waipa, Piako, Tauranga. Whakataue, Kawhia, West Taupo, and East Tiupo, including the cities and islands therein and adjacent thereto. 3. The County Cook Cittle District, comprising the County of C >ok, an i any cities and islands therein and adjacent thereto— has been signed by the Governor, and was gazetted on Thursday last, and comes into foice this day (Mond.iy) the loth March. The warrants appointing the chairmen and members of the Cattle Boards have also been sijrned by the Gove<nor, and likewise come into f>rce from the 1 5th March : — North ucklimd Cattle Board : — M . Joseph May, chairman; Messrs, Benjamin Maclean, James Dilweorth, Thos. M rrin, andJames Walla -e mnibers.SeuthAuokland Cattle Board; Mr Every Maclean, chairman ; Messrs. Henry Buttle, Arthur albert Fanthsm, William Steele, Charles James members. The chief inspector of sheep (Mr Lewi*) has been appointed in-pectoi 1 of cattle for the new districts and hII sheep inspectors will be appointed deputy cattle inspectors. The inspectors and deputy inspectors are authorised to employ qualified veterinary surgeons whenever they and the 1 ocal Cattle Boards consider a certificate from a veterinary surgeon necessary. 1. The appointments to the Cook County Cattle Board will be made as soon as replies have been received from the gentlemen who hive been asked te serve on the Board. 2. Mr Edward rbell, sheep inspector, is deputy cattle inspector in tin Cook County district Mr. Wbifcaker: The government are mo^t anxious that every poa.-ible measure shall be taken to suppress this disease. Mr. May will bear testimony that I have Tiever refused any time that might be required of me to come to a proper decision. But you must remember that the Cattle Board, and not tho Government, have power to act. They should keep this in mind, for it will enable the Board to act the more vigorously and with better effect. Having thanked the Hon. Mr Whitaker for his courtesy, tha deputation retired