THE SCAB QUESTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 206, 3 February 1882, Page 2

THE SCAB QUESTION.

MEETING OF PATEA PAKMERS 1 CLUB. (from our own correspondent.) PATEA, This Day. An official inquiry concerning the continued presence of scab iv sheep in Wanganui, Paten, and Hawera districts, and other matters bearing thereon, was held at a special meeting of the Farmers' Club last evening. Captain Wray and over twenty farmers attended, and generally they complained in strong terms of official laxity in enforcing the Scab Act, to which was mainly attributed continuance of the presence of the disease. It was alleged that the first outbreak in Patea occurred on a run five years ago, from which it had never been eradicated. Charges of gross negligence and partiality were detailed against all the inspectors from Taranaki to "Wangauui. Mr. Hamilton said Mr. Wilson and he, who had bought at Hawera from the infected flock, had beeu to Wanganui to find out who sold them and discovered it was Mr. McGregor; b'lt a legal opinion advised them that they had no claim for compensation unless a warranty of cleanliness had been given at the sale, and rceommanded no farmer to buy sheep without such warranty. Information showed that "Wauganui was the head source of the disease, and a case was instanced where it had existed twenty years. Chief Inspector Bailey admitted that there was good reason for the complaints, and promised to use endeavors to reform the loose official administration, and to take measures to prevent further spread of the disease. Answering questions, he said he conf-idered the most effectual wash was lime and sulphur, and particularised the dutios of the inspectors. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Bailey for his attendance.