IMPORTATION OF STOCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 10

IMPORTATION OF STOCK.

A special meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association of Otago was held in the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday. Mr G. G. Russell (president) occupied the chair, and there were present — Messrs J. Roberts, G. L. Denniston, J. Shand, T. Brydone.L. Maclean, S. G. Smith, D. Stronach, R. Wilson, T. T Ritchie, H. Driver, J. G. Douglas, V.S., A. Skilling, H. Gourley, W. Patrick, G. L. Sise, R. Charters, A. M'Farlane, and E. J. Spence.

The Chaieman said the meeting hail been called together to consider a communication from the House of Representatives regarding the present prohibition on the importation of stock from England. Some years back disease was very prevalent and widespread throughout England, and as a precautionary measure they prohibited the importation of stock here. There was a little inconvenience felt at first, but for the last two years breeders, especially of longwool sheep, had found great difficulty in procuring the necessary changes of stock, there being so few flocks here to choose from. The only way of keeping up the quality of the flocks was by importation from England. The voyage of about 45 days by steamers, and 90 by sailing vessels, was a very fair quarantine for the stock, for if there was any disease at the commencement of the voyage it would be sure to develop itself during the voyage. He thought the time had come when the prohibition might be taken off. They had heard lately that New Zealand longwool and frozen mutton were taking first rank in England, and to maintain that position the restrictions should be taken off. The 'Secretary read the communication from the House as follows: —

House of Eepresentatives, Wellington. To Mr S.James,

Secretary O. A. and P. Association. Dear Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that a Select Committee of the House of Representatives has been appointed for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting on " the advisableness or otherwise of the New Zealand ports being opened for the importation of live stock." The committee desire to obtain the epinion of tho several agricultural and pastoral associations on this important subject ; and lam requested to ask your association to either hold a full meeting of its members or adopt such other means as may be deemed expedient, with ttie object of obtaining an expression of opinion on this matter, and that as soon as possible the result be communicated to me for the information of this committee. If a meeting has been already bold to consider the ques-

tion it will suffice to forward the resolutions agreed upon. I have further to request that you will be kind enough' to state the number of votes recorded at such meeting for and against the opening of the ports, andjdso communicate any memoranda of arguments used or any similar information which you think may be of use to the committee. As the committee desire to report in three weeks from date, you will oblige by taking early action. — Yours, &c, A. P. O'Cahaghan, Chairman. The Secretary also read the following communication from the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association : — Ohristchurch, April 18. To the Chairman Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that the question of opening the ports of New Zealand for the importation of cattle aud sheep has been very fully considered by the committee, and also by the members of the association, at the annual meeting, held laßt month, and at that meeting it was resolved to ask the Government to open the ports for the importation of cattle and sheep. This conclusion was arrived at from the fact that Great Britain has notjfor some years beenfso free from all kinds of cattle disease as she is just now, foot and mouth disease having been stamped out. At a meeting -of the feneral committee, held on Friday, the Ist inst., Sir ohn Hall moved and Mr Henderson seconded the following resolution, which was agreed to :— " That the leading agricultural and pastoral associations in New Zealand be informed of the resolution arrived at by the general meeting, and that they be invited to consider the question ; and if they concur in the above resolution, to address the Government on the subject ; also to be good enough to communicate to the secretary of this association the decision at which they may arrive." Trusting that your committee may be able to join us in the above work, — I remain, &c, M. Mubphy, secretary. The Secretary also read the following telegram from Mr G. S. Cooper, Colonial Undersecretary :— All the Australian colonies prohibit sheep and cattle, admit horses, and quarantine dogs tor six months ; but most of them will probably admit cattle and sheep on resolution of btock Conference. Mr J. Roberts said he rose to move a resolution which he thought would meet the case, and which would receive at their hands a large support. The resolution—" That the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association are of opinion that the time has arrived when the prohibition on the importation of cattle and sheep from the United Kingdom may, under proper restrictions, be safely removed, and that the Government be requested to give effect to this resolution, provided that the other Australasian colonies decide to act in a similar direction." He might say he had taken this resolution almost word for word from the report that was submitted to the Stock Conference held in Sydney in September last. The conference consisted of delegates from all the Australian colonies, and they met to discuss all questions relating to stock. If that meeting passed the resolution, they would reaffirm the conclusion the conference had come to. There was no doubt that it was desirable that they should be able to avail themselves of importation to improve their flocks. Doubtless New Zealand was stocked to a large extent with as good stock as they could get elsewhere, but it was desirable that there should be a change of blood, and it was a matter of importance that they should be ' in a position to import new stock. It was suggested that horses and dogs might be included. Dogs all along had been admitted here, but they were subject to six months' quarantine, which was equal to prohibition. He also saw that the Stock Conference recommended tbat the existing regulations should still continue, and in the face of their recommendation on this point he thought it would be unwise on their part not to endorse their decision. He did not therefore propose to put dogs in his resolution. As to the proviso at the end of the resolution, "That the Go/ernment be requested to give effect to this resolution, provided that the other Australasian colonies decide to act ia a similar direction," he dared say they were well aware of the necessity for it. If they introduced stock here and the other colonies did not do so, their ports would be closed to New Zealand stock. If this colony on its own part introduced stock from the United Kingdom, the other colonies would close their ports to New Zealand stock. The 46th resolution adopted by the conference provided that drafts of regulations dealing with this question should be submitted to other colonies before becoming law, so that the movement might be an Australasian one. This was his warrant for inserting this last clause, providing that the Government should not seek to act independently, but that the movement for importation of stock from the United Kingdom should be an Australasian movement and not a New Zealand one. The conference also recommended that if the prohibition was removed cattle should be submitted to a quarantine of 120 days, and sheep to 90 days. These were reasonable precautions. Mr Beydone seconded the motion, and said he would go even further than Mr Roberts, and would allow stock to be landed here without any quarantine if properly certificated at Home and examined here. Mr Stbonach suggested that the United States should be included in the motion. Mr Roberts would accept the alteration. He might mention what they would all be gratified to hear, that the sheep inspector had been able to announce that the colony was entirely free from scab. He indicated in' his report that Marlborougb, whick had been the stronghold of the scab, had been declared clean. ' The presence of scab had been a very serious hindrance to the trade in stock between here and Australia. He hoped that during the next 12 months no case would take place, and then they could ask the Australian colonies to admit sheep. Mr Shand thought the passage out from Home was a fair quarantine. Mr Roberts said it was considered advisable not to clash with the Sydney conference, which had fixed the quarantine periods. It might be as well to include horses in the resolution, seeing that the colony was at a disadvantage as compared with other colonies. A New Zealand breeder had to bring an English horse via Melbourne or Sydney. The motion was carried unanimously with the additions as to horses and the United States.

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