THE SCAB LAWS.

Press, Volume X, Issue 1144, 9 July 1866, Page 3

THE SCAB LAWS.

TO THE EOITOE OF THE " PBE3S". SIE, —As a runholder of this province, I was very glad to read Mr Gray's letter on the subject of our scab law, which appeared in your paper a few days back, agreeing with him as I do that it is time some enquiry should be made into the working of the Ordinance, seeing that although it has been in force for ten years or so, it has utterly failed to free the province from scab. I have had, for the last five years, frequent opportunities of observing the operation of the law, and I believe there to be a great error in principle in the Ordinance, which I submit is sufficient in itself to account for the failure of it. The " Lyttelton Times," a few weeks ago, whilst remarking on the unfortunate results of our scab legislation, pointed out this flaw, viz., the taking from the owner a declaration that to the best of his belief his sheep are free from scab, in order that the law may declare them clean. The same system seems at one time to have been adopted in Victoria, and is strongly condemned by Mr Kerr, the chief inspector of that colony, in the following words: —" It is a fact that many of the persons who made this declaration were quite ignorant of the appearance of srab; and, secondly, it appears to be open to grave question whether it is wise in this manner to make any man sit in judgment on his own case, especially where his pocket is so immediately affected ; or whether a law which is grounded on the assumption that sheepowners (the declaration notwithstanding) will prefer their neighbors' interests to their own, is likely to be a success." In drawing attention to the application of this principle, it will be sufficient, I think, to point out one objection it is open to, which is this: that a sheepowner, in his wish to comply with the law, without damaging his conscience, may easily avoid knowing anything regarding the management of his sheep for the three months previous to his taking the declaration, which is, if made under such circumstances, a practical absurdity and at the same time most unjust, as it enables the declarer to drive his sheep wherever he jhooses, opening on to the owner of really clean sheep the door for the entrance of the disease which, when discovered in his own flocks, renders him liable to be punished. I do not know whether Mr Kerr has been successful in Victoria as inspector, but, having gained a prize for the best essay on scab in sheep, he is entitled to be listened, to . .with consideration; and should the Council deem it necessary to legislate afresh on this matter, I would recommend for its consideration Mr Keer's little book j my own idea being that his system of licensing the dipping of sheep, thereby rendering the concealment of scab difficult, is one which, if adopted here, would really help us to clean the province. I am, your obedient servant. Chables Febrebs Knxvett. Heslerton, July 7,1866.