CONDEMNED CATTLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8051, 3 August 1904, Page 2

CONDEMNED CATTLE.

THE TUBERCULIN TEST. A Canterbury deputation waited upon the Minister for Lands on Monday with reference to the question of the payn<«r*. of compensation for condemned cattle. They >ug<eJ that the maximum value f.;it oq a condpmned animal should be raised to £10. and that the owner should get twq-thirds of the value, whatever it might be, up to that amount. At present «l'e maximum value is £8, and the owner only gets half. * They pointed out that the condemnation of cattle suffering fe-in tuberculosis benefited the public. rtH, therefore, the public, as' represented *>y the State, should bear a larger share of the loss. The deputation also urgoi that the tuberculin test should be dona away with, and a clinical test by examination by. experts at tho saieyards should be substituted^ Another point represented was that the present law stipulated that no compensation should be paid for a condemned cow that was over eight years of age, and the deputation wanted the age raised. Mr Duncan, in replying, thought the age should be raised to ten years, but tne veterinary surgeons stated that cows from eight to twelve years of age were more susceptible to disease than younger cattle. He had no objection to arbitration where there was a difference of opinion as regards value, but he did not think the Government co'tld raise the 'maximum 'compensation.. The department cjid not want to make a loss through having to destroy diseased cattle, and if they gave the full value they would have to pay compensation for ell the tuberculosis cattle in Canterbury. He hnJ his doubts about the efficacy of the tuberculin test, but he did not think a clinical test in the saieyards would work, because there were no conveniences. He would, however, • consult the veterinary surgeons of the department, to net whether a better system ot examination could be devised. At the close of the interview, Mr C. J. Reakes, assistant-Chief Veterinarian, assured ths deputation of the efficacy ol the tuberculin test.