To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 29, 5 February 1869, Page 2

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail.

Sir — Surely there is some amendment required in the 'Nelson Scab Act,' wfien you find that the Government impose upon all sheep coming into this province overland from Marlborough, the heavy tax of 9d. a head, viz.: 6d. for dipping, a penny fo_ inspection fee, and 2d. for introducing sheep into a district where the 9th and 10th sections of the Act are in operation. This tax, together with the additional expense of driving, paddock accommodation, etc., saying nothing with regard to the depreciated condition of the marketable stock, in consequence of the knocking about, and severe dipping they are subject to at the termination of so long a drive, leaves, as you may imagine, a very small margin of profit to the stock-holder in these times of such great depression. One would think, sir, in times like the present, that it would be one of the first duties of Government to endeavor to lessen the burdens of the people — and when a tax is shown to press so severely upon a particular class, some steps surely should be taken to give them relief. It may be asked, how is this to be done? I would suggest that a great deal might be done towards reducing these charges, if the inspectors were allowed a discretionary power, not to insist in all cases (and particularly when the sheep show no signs of disease) upon such a strong dip being used as that specified in the Act, making of course, a corresponding reduction in the charge for dipping, and that they might be also allowed to use at their discretion Hood's composition (which would be equally efficacious), and which could be done at a charge of about a peuny per head. There is also some alteration needed in the charge of 2d. a head for sheep b. in gin troduced into a district where the 9th atid 10th sections of the Act are in force, which I venture to say was never intended to apply to stock coming from Marlborough to Nelson, but simply to sheep going from thei'e to the Amuri. Hoping that some action will soon be taken by the Government with the view of relieving the stockholders from these heavy charges, I am, etc., Justice.