The Otago Witness

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 16

The Otago Witness

WITH WHIOH IS IXOOKPOBA.TBD THE 'SOUTHBBN MEBOOBT.' DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 18. The Sheep Act, certain clauses of which came into force on Ist January, is an attempt at consolidation of legislation on the subject of scab inspection. We lately published in our columns the more important operative clauses, to which Bheepowners should direct their attention. Many practical defects are sure to be discovered in the working of this Act, because the circumstances are very different in different provincial districts. One defect in clause 40 will be obvious enough to dealers who have been in the habit of bringing fat sheep from Canterbury by rail to suit the market. According to the strict letter of this clause, as the Waitaki is the boundary of another district, no sheep could be so introduced into Otago without seven days' prior notice to the inspector. If some way is not found of passing a whole flock or mob, out of which drafts can be taken from day to day, this would result in serious inconvenience. There are other defects and 'ambiguities which it is not needful to enlarge on, as, no doubt, some way will be found to work the Act till next Bession, 'when necessary amendments can be made. But we wish to point out some considerations why, contrary to the opinions expressed in certain quarters, and notably in the Mount Ida Chronicle, a Chief Inspector is necessary. It is quite true that we have no scab either in Otago or but it is not so long ■ago that a severe outbreak was threatened in the Oamaru district through iihe importation of a few infected sheep, jaad it was only stamped out by vigorous jmeasures on the part of the Chief Inspector. In Nelson scab still exists, and a little , laxity and carelessness would .soon cause it to spread across the borders, and throughout Canterbury, iWhich is now a clean district, and not an •infected one, as stated by our Mount Ida Now, unless there is a Chief Inspector in each district, to 'take' an 'interest in working the •Act and in smoothing away difficulties^ one sub - inspector or another -might neglect his duties and some day a whole subdivision might ;be scabbed. It must be rememJbered that the Chief Inspector is also sole of a large district on the seajboard from the Waitaki to Port Molyaieux and about 40 miles inland, and has 'therefore important duties to fulfil besides -those of mere superintendence. Unfortunately, the more faithfully a Chief flnspector performs his duties the :les3 will his work appear, because jas long as scab is absent people fare apt to say, " "What do we need fan inspector for 1 There is no scab." |The .question, is why is there no scab 1 Is jit not because the duties of inspection have been carefully fulfilled? We certainly .think, in view of the fearful evils that might result from this pest, that prevention is better than cure, and the present Act deserves a fair trial, which iwe have no doubt it will receive at the [hands of the indefatigable officer who has '.for some time been in charge of this district.

j jThb increase in the receipts of the Customs for the half-year ending 31st December amounts to £22,000, notwithstanding the fact that very little duty on tea and sugar was collected during the' last quarter — holders being, of course, desirous of availing themselves of the reduced rate of duty. Large sums have,- , however, been paid on these articles in the first ten days of January, aggregating in Dunedin alone over £4000. The Treasurer's estimate of the Customs for the year ,was £1,320,000, | which was an increase of £46,000 on the I previous year ; so that the present in:crease is' progressive, and bids fair, if | continued, to make up a large portion of 1 the loss by remitted duties. For the j half-year the exact proportion, according Ito estimate, would be £660,000 if each i half-year were, equal. The actual return |to,3lst December was £682,000. The inext two quarters being the best for | trade, there is no reason to doubt that | the increase will be maintained. The ! stamp duties also show an increase for |the same period amounting to £16,000, J with some large prospective amounts to be on probate during the next if few months. The land revenue, though 'large for the half-year— about £670,000— ihas dwindled amazingly during the last two months, till it has reached in December the low figure of £25,000. This, not satisfactory from a revenue point of view, is indicative of a cautious and restrictive policy on the part of banks and land mortgage companies ,ihat is more healthy than was the freo\handed policy of the past year or two. ,It does not necessarily imply an actual lack of funds, but may only mean a ; temporary cessation of fresh advances till the money market at Home has settled .down into a normal condition, and conifidence is sufliciently restored to bring the debentures of Colonial banks and finance companies onco more into favour. Of course this affects private property as

well as Government lands, and holders will do wisely in refraining from pressing sales at present.