THE STOCK ACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 20B (Supplement)

THE STOCK ACT.

The following petition, eigued by stockowners, is to be presented to Parliament during tho cr>mh:o Betsion : — „ , ' We, the undersigned' slock-owners, 'desire to briDg unde.v your notice tho following matters as adversely affecting the intercuts of the fanners of the colony— vigs : That we regard "Tho Stock Act 1895 "-as in some respects oppressive, and that the powers confoixed are liable to be exceeded and exercised in a manner sunh as may inflict hardships on the struggling settler, and ba detrimental to tho dairy industry, especially in respect to cowpox and tuberculosis. As to cowpcx, whioh was in 1895 placed on the schedule list of tho act, wa pray that it be removed from the said scheduled list for theie reasons : That it is universal .wherever cows are kept, and has been hero in tho memory of the oldest settlers, every herd in the colony being more or less affected during each, season especially where heifers are milked for tbe firat s-aaon? fh.'t it is harmleis to milk, no caße being known of in the colony where such milk has affected tbe public health. ; that the prohibiting of milk from pows merely showing cow pox will render tbe business of dairying so unprofitable as to make it impossible to carry it on, and thuu interfere with the principal source of livelihood of so many small farmer?, and seriously binder the dairy industry of the colony ; and we wish it understood that wo do not ftftk or desire in this revpect any relaxing of thorough inspection of dairies and premises as provided. As regards tuberculosis, we pray that where action is taken under "The Stock Act 1895" compensation be granted out of the public funds of the colony for these reasons : That destroying cattle for tuberculosis simply means ruin to the farmers; that it may commence and exist in cattle at any time, and through no fault or care* lessn-'Si! or want of ■ cleanliness of tho farmer, and is purely a misfortune'; that no cases have come to light in New Zealand where milk from cows affected has been detrimental to the public health, such being -merely assumed,, and that as it exists, in a more or less degree throughout New Zealand at the present time the enforcement of the act ' would mean the necessary destruction of one- * half of the dairy cattle of the colony ; and thera- v fore, as such action is taken for the benefit of the general public, we -consider the utockowner is fairly entitled to relief out of the general funds of the colony. We therefore pray thai your honourable House will earnestly consider our prayer, and make such amendment as shall ensure the stockowner att fair protection and amends.