IMPORTATION OF BONEDUST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8241, 13 June 1905, Page 2

IMPORTATION OF BONEDUST.

When the Government deckled to alter its plans wiMi respect to the sterilisation of boncdust Sir J. C«. Ward staleu as one reason for the change that if the bone were sterilised in the colony the price lo the farmer would be made ahno't prohibitive. An exchange questions Iho statement, and proceeds lo give particulars of the provisions, similar to the system originally proposed, which have been working satisfactorily in Victoria for the past three years. Under the V'dorian Public Wraith Act, 1890, the Gorcrnor-in-Louncil has power lo prohibit tho importation of animal products likely to introduce auy contagious or infectious disease. By an order made on November 25th, 1902. ihe Govc-rnor-in-Couucil declared that whereas anthrax was known to exist in some of the Australian colonies, including Queensland, in India, and in various other countries named, the introduction of raw bones or boned ust from any of those countries was prohibited except at Melbourne, Gcelong, Echuca, or Wodonga, and one or two other places. The importer was by the same order required lo remove the material immediately to quarantine grounds, where they were lo be converted by chemical processes into superphosphates, or steamed under pressure of 301b per square inch for a period of two hours. If the imported article is certified to have been so treated by the Government of the country of export it is to be admitted free. It will be noted that this is a- very different thing from a declaration by the exporter. In Victoria a number of companies have been appointed to treat such bone material. At Yavravillo, Port Melbourne, Saltwater River, Galla, Echuca, and Bendigo there are quarantine grounds where the material is treated, either chemically or by steam. The- Victorian Department of Agriculture states that "Victorian merchants can supply bonedust sterilised by steaming at £5 10s per ton, and sterilised by treating it with sulphuric acid and converting it into superphosphates at £s. per ton f.o.b. Melbourne."