PEDIGREE STOCK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1936, Page 5

PEDIGREE STOCK.

ASSISTING IMPORTATION. AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS. Conditions governing the importation of pedigree stock under the Commonwealth Government’s scheme to encourage the introduction of highquality animals into Australia apply to cattle, sheep, milch goats and pigs' purchased in the United Kingdom.. No mention is made of the contributions applying to horses or to any stock bought in countries other than the United Kingdom. In regard to swine, the breeds eligible, for assistance are Berkshire, Large White, Middle White and Tamworth. «

The assistance will take the form of a contribution towards the, expenses incurred in the importation of the animals, but no assistance will be rendered in respect of the cost of the animal itself. 1

The shipping companies have agreed that, instead of the freight rates usually charged by them, they will charge only out-of-pocket expenses- actually incurred by them in provision of stalls, water, etc., and in loading and unloading the animals. Flat rates have been fixed to cover these out-of-poc-ket expenses, the rates, including boxes or pens for cattle, sheen and goats, being as follow: —Cattle, 30 guineas; sheep and milch goats, 10 guineas; pigs, 6 guineas, excluding pens. All expenses connected with the transport of the stock from the port of export in the United Kingdom to the port of importation in Australia will he borne in the following pro-portions:—Two-fifths by the importer: two-fifths by the Commonwealth and State Governments concerned in equal proportions; one-fifth by the Commonwealth Bank subject to review after June 30, 1936. The scheme will apply only to animals for which a certificate of full registration by a recognised stud society is furnished, together with the vendor’s certificate of breeding and production record, if any. Applications for assistance under the scheme, stating the class, breed, age and sex of the animal it is intended to import, the date of shipment, the name of the vessel and the name of the shipping agent, are to be made by the purchaser of the animal to the Department of Agriculture of the State into which the animal is to be imported. That department will advise the Commonwealth Department of

Commerce, Melbourne, when a permit has been granted, and the animals must be shipped tinder the supervision of the Commonwealth Government’s veterinary officer in London, who will issue a certificate to the shipping company concerned that the animals come within the scheme.

Applicants must comply with the Commonwealth Quarantine Act and the proclamations and regulations thereunder relating to the importations of animals into Australia, and with the requirements regarding quarantine of animals in the United Kingdom. They must also make a sworn declaration to the effect that they are purchasing and importing the stock for their owlt use. SALE OF STOCK. The assistance will apply only if the stock are retained by the purchaser for at least two years from the importation. Should they he sold before the expiration of the two-year period, any asKstance which may have been granted under the scheme must be refunded.

Applicants must insure the animals against death and, in regard to the period after arrival in Australia, must take out an insurance policy in the joint names of the purchaser and the Minister of Agriculture of the State into which the animal is to be imported, for an amount at least equal to the amount- of assistance rendered to the purchaser. In the case of total loss the animal must be replaced by importing from the United Kingdom a similar animal of equal value, or, alternatively, the total . amount of the financial assistance paid to the purchaser iu respect of the lost animal must be refunded. Importers of stock are required to make all the necessary arrangements for shipment and transport of the stock from the United Kingdom to Australia, and to co-operate where possible with the Commonwealth Government veterinary officer in London and any expert committee that may he set up for the purpose of accumulating shipments, so as to take advantage of any reduced charges which may apply where a number of animals are shipped at the same time by the came ship. This does not apply to shipping charges as quoted above, which arc the minimum amounts irrespective of the number of animals shipped. The importers are required to pay the whole of the expenses connected with the importation of the stock. Shipping charges must he paid m London in sterling, in exchange for bills of lading as customary. Claims will be made on the Department of Commerce for reimbursement of lsie amount of assistance available to them. The Department of Commerce will make the necessary adjustments with the State Governments and with the Commonwealth Bank. The scheme will operate in respect of stock shipped from the -United Kingdom since .December 1, 1935.