THE GOVERNMENT SHEEP-DIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5583, 7 October 1879, Page 6

THE GOVERNMENT SHEEP-DIP.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have taken considerable interest in the controversy re the sheep-dip which has been erected at Keinuera, aud I con. gratulateyourcorrespondentsontlie generally dignified tone of their letters as well as upon the effective arguments which they have adduced, together with the favourable contrast between their energy and the lethargy manifested by the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association in the matter Under ordinary circumstances prizes have generally gone to the members of the executive committee of the above society ; but as regards this sheep-dip affair your'correspondents merit all the special prizes, whilst the association comes in for nothing but dishonourable mention. You are aware that a member of this association brought in a motion before the executive of the society which amounted to a protest against the action of the Government at the time when tenders werecalledfor forthe erection of tlioso dips. But it is presumed that, because it was found impossible to discover that it had auy reference to an "agricultural show," where an opportunity could be atfonled to parade pedigree, that it did not come within the practical functions of that body. The association therefore took no action, except such as was extremely likely to result in nonsuccess. The telegram sent on June 11 by the society to the Government was practically an insult to that power. Just as as though a dash of the secretary's pen, like the potent wave of a magician's wand, could nullify a contract which had been duly advertised aud probably accepted under the usual stringent conditions. If the associa. «ion had been really true to itself, aud had any desire to make its aotious justify its euphonious title, it would have p'ace.l itself in direct communication with the Govern ment at the earliest possible moment after the announcement on the part of the Government of the intention to do the work. Instead of this, they simply shirk the ques. tion, aud when they fjad that the public aro ventilating the matter at the expense of their reputation, and in a uirection which virtually ignores their existence or importance, a telegram nearly three months old is published, which, I presume, they intend for a complete exoneration, but which, in reality, only tends to demonstrate the fact oE their own dereliction of du'.y in a matter which so vitally affects the pastoral interests of Aucklaud. It was really absurd to suppose that the authorities would suspend operations upon the reeeipt of that l.iconic telegram from the society, and it only proves the insincerity of the thing. If there had been any real desire to prevent tlia erection of such a degenerate offspring as that sheep, dip will be, the society should have asked the Government to Buspend actual opera, tions until a report from a genera' meeting of the society arrived, in which case the sheep-dip would never have been erected where it is, at least not for the purpose of accomplishing its present declared object. If the society did not see the importance of such a step, then it is no longer worthy or its great title, and should forthwith aiter its designation in order to fully harmonise with its present functions. If it did see the necessity, then it jvaa guilty of great insincerity and carelessness, or else there was some ulterior motive, about which the outside public are kept in ignorance. The present Sheep Act is a very good aud efficient measure in a general way, but it is not especially applicable to the peculiar circumstances of Auckland. Still the pooplo here aud not the Government are mostly responsible for this defect, for, with a courtesy and consideration which does their judgment and policy credit, the authorities seut copies of the bill to all tli s road boards, asking for an expression of opinion upon its merits and demerits, so as to enable certain clauses to be rendered more applicable to respective cases. As the Act stmds now, it does well for large runholders, but is defective in its application to a district like this, where sheep are imported from a seaboard 600 miles in extent. But what I wish to prove is the fact that a Government so courteously disposed as the Government were on the scab question would have met the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association in the expression of any real question so affecting the welfare of our llockß as this dip qquestion is, if they had sincerely brought the matter forward in a tangible form. I intended to comment on tho letters of "A Sheep-breeding Unit," "Settler," and one other, which have appeared in your columns.; but, upon second perusal, conclude that their great excellence so recommends them that any attempt at systematic eulogy would detract from their merit. I therefore content myseif with a recommendation to those interested to giva those letters careful consideration. I also congratulate the Waipa County Council npon its decisive action in this dip question, aud also hope that the motion of Mr. Every Maclean on tho question, when it comes before the Waikato Society, will result in such a. way as to reflect no credit upon the cavalier style adopted by the more pretentious society, who3e head-quarters are in Auckland.— I am, &0., Frankness.