H.—2

14

Proposed : " 15. That foreign stock, and the stalls and pens used by them, and the attendants' clothes and effects, on board a foreign vessel in any Australasian port be disinfected as the Chief Inspector may direct."—Agreed to. Proposed: " 16. That Australasian stock coming into direct or indirect contact with foreign stock, or with infected,stock, be deemed infected stock." Amendment proposed, " That the words ' foreign or' be inserted after the word ' deemed 'in the second line." Mr. Tabaet said this clause bore on the matter referred to in the letter received from Messrs. Huddart, Parker, and Co. His opinion was that the steamer "Tasmania " should be placed on the same footing as other vessels, such as the "Talune," " Oonah," &c. He was in favour of reducing the period of quarantine from six to three months, but did not think it should be made retrospective. Mr. Pack thought it would strike the Conference as being somewhat absurd that, while sheep from England, America, or anywhere else had been admitted with a quarantine of ninety days, yet a ship which had carried foreign sheep and was not subject to scab should be subjected to six months' prohibition. It was much more easy to disinfect a ship. Mr. Phillips said that in his district they had a great fear of introducing the foot-and-mouth disease. They desired to have steamers quarantined for the full time, as it was believed that it was through vessels that it might be introduced. Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Proposed: "17. That if the Inspector is doubtful as to the freedom of any stock from infection he may temporarily detain them on board ship, or in some convenient, place, at the owners' expense, where they may be dressed or disinfected as the Inspector directs."—Agreed to. (See page 45.) Interchange of Australasian Animals. Proposed: "18. That no colony be deemed to be a clean colony in which scab exists or has existed'within the next-preceding two years, and no sheep nor sheepskins shall be introduced except from a clean colony."—Clause postponed. (See page 17.) Proposed : " 19. That no sheep shall be imported except by vessels that have not traded to any but a clean Australasian colony within the next-preceding six months, nor by any vessel which shall within that period have had any sheep on board from any colony or country other than a clean Australasian colony, and the captain of the vessel shall when required make a declaration to that effect." Amendment proposed: "That the words ' except' and 'not' be struck out in the first line, and the word ' three ' be substituted for ' six ' in the second line." Amendment agreed to, but clause postponed for further consideration. (See page 17.) Proposed: "20. That all stock intended to be landed shall be accompaned by a declaration from the owner and a certificate by the Inspector or a qualified veterinary surgeon at the port from which such stock were shipped that they are not infected, and had not during the next-preceding twelve months been infected, and that they are from a clean colony."—Agreed to. Proposed : " 21. " That, if the Inspector be doubtful as to the freedom of any stock from infection, he may temporarily detain them on board ship or in some convenient place at the owners' expense, and they may be dressed or disinfected as the Inspector may direct."—Agreed to. (See page 45.) Proposed : " 22. That if on examination by the Inspector or a qualified veterinary surgeon, and the production of the necessary declaration and certificate, the Inspector considers the stock free from infection, he may allow them to land."—-Agreed to. Proposed : " 23. That if the stock be found to be infected they may be destroyed, or otherwise disposed of, as the Minister directs, without compensation."—Agreed to. Proposed : " 24. That where an outbreak of disease occurs in any colony the neighbouring colonies may, pending the extent and risk of the outbreak being definitely ascertained, at once issue a prohibition against the introduction of stock from such colony ; and that the duration of the prohibition depend upon the amount of risk arising from such outbreak."—Agreed to. Proposed: " 25. That sheep imported into any colony, and certified by an Inspector of that colony as free from infection, may be introduced into any other colony if found to be so by the Inspector of the colony into which the sheep are being imported."—Agreed to. (See page 45.) Proposed: " 26. That Australasian dogs, accompanied by a declaration by the owner and a certificate from the Inspector or veterinary surgeon, be allowed to land on the permit of a Customs officer." Amendment proposed: "That the following addition be made to the clause: 'but, in the event of any colony or colonies not carrying out the regulation requiring foreign dogs to be quarantined in Government quarantine-grounds only, all dogs arriving either by sea or land from any such colony or colonies shall be deemed foreign stock.' " Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. (See page 46.) Proposed:" 27. That no Australasian stock be transhipped in any Australasian port without permission of the Inspector."—Agreed to. Pbivate Quaeantine-geounds. Mr. Lawey gave notice of motion to the following effect: " That, in the opinion of this Conference, the proclamation of private premises as quarantine-grounds for imported stock constitutes a grave public danger, by virtually abolishing all safeguards against the introduction of disease." The Conference then adjourned till 10 o'clock next day.