45

H.—2

Subclause (20) passed as printed. Clause 12, deletion confirmed. Clause 13 passed as printed. Clause 14, as amended, confirmed Clause 15 passed as printed. Clause 16, as amended, confirmed. Clause 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." Mr. Tabaet suggested that the words "or in some convenient place " be struck out, as that meant a private quarantine. Mr. Goedon said that would affect vessels coming down the coast which might call, say, at Eockhampton, and only stay twelve hours. They must have some place to land such stock or keep them under observation. Mr. Tabaet said the Conference had affirmed the principle that private quarantine was bad, and the clause suggested private quarantine. Mr. Beuce said the clause was passed, he believed, to give an Inspector time to inspect doubtful stock, and with a view, perhaps, of getting assistance to examine them. It was only a brief isolation, because if an animal were in a condition to go to quarantine it would go at once. If there was a place for such animals it would be right to send them there. Mr. Eitchie said that in the case of a boat, say, belonging to the Union Steamship Company, coming in in the morning with doubtful stock on board, and going out in the afternoon, there would be no chance of inspection. He would be inclined to support the use of a hulk for such a purpose. He would move, as an amendment, '.' That the words 'at the port of arrival' be inserted after the word ' Inspector' in the first line, and that the words 'or remove them to some other vessel for a period not exceeding forty-eight hours' be substituted for the words 'or in some convenient place.'" Mr. Bbuce seconded the amendment, which was agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Mr. McNicol moved the addition of the following new clause : " That all stock during the period of quarantine be under the surveillance of a qualified veterinary surgeon." Mr. McClean seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 9: New Zealand, 3; Tasmania, 3; New South Wales, 3. Noes, 3 —Queensland. New clause agreed to. Interchange of Australasian Animals. Clause 18 was passed as printed. Clause 19 : " That no sheep shall be imported by vessels that have traded to any but a clean Australasian Colony within the next preceding three 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." Mr. Beuce said that in the New South Wales regulations it was set out that sheep coming without having complete papers, or which had been put on board an unclean vessel, might be accepted on being quarantined and dipped. The question now arose whether they should declare sheep which had been put on board an unclean vessel practically foreign —that was, to undergo sixty days' quarantine or be killed. A case occurred not long ago where sheep from Victoria which arrived by an unclean vessel had to undergo two dippings and fourteen days' quarantine. Mr. Eitchie said this clause might affect New Zealand when the colony was declared clean. He understood, however, that the delegates had given a sort of undertaking that the removal of the embargo would apply to the ship as well as to the sheep. But the clause would apply to Western Australia. Mr. Tabaet said Tasmania did not admit sheep carried by vessels trading to an unclean port. A case occurred some three years ago where a vessel trading with the northern ports of New Zealand picked up a cargo of sheep in Victoria and ran into one of the coastal ports of Tasmania, and, in opposition to the Inspector, landed the sheep—-some 760 cross-breds. He (Mr. Tabart) at once took possession of them, had them killed and their skins burned. That was the way this cargo was dealt with, showing conclusively that the colony intended to prevent any possible risk of introducing disease. Mr. Beuce said this question affected South Australia and Western Australia. The latter colony was being stocked by steamers trading to Port Darwin. Stock were landed there and taken on to Western Australia. The clause as amended confirmed. Clause 20 passed as printed. (See page 55.) Clause 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." Amendment proposed, "That the words 'at the port of arrival' be inserted after the word ' Inspector ' in the first line, and that the words 'or remove them to some other vessel for a period not exceeding forty-eight hours' be substituted for the words 'or in some convenient place.'"— Agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 22, 23, and 24 were passed as printed. Clause 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." Amendment proposed, "That the word 'so' in the second line be struck out, and the words 7—H. 2.