THE NEW SCAB ACT AND ITS OPPONENTS.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 800, 27 June 1865, Page 3

THE NEW SCAB ACT AND ITS OPPONENTS.

To the Editor of the Colonist,

Sib, —I am given to understand a petition is now being carried through the Suburbs of Nelson and adjacent country districts, for the purpose of suppressing any legislation on Sheep Ordinances, or the passing an acfc for the prevention and cure of scab in sheep. I have not the least doubt the petition -will be signed by many, not one of whom will have seen the act, or even heard it read but will blindly accept the subtle misrepresentation of the mover of the petition. - One of these misrepresentation is that all owners of flocks whether clean or unclean, shall be liable to heavy dues payable to the Inspector on his first inspection, and that penalties increasing in amount each time, may t c levied three or four times a year. This is utterly erroneous ; no inspection fees are chargeable against persons whose flocks are clean, and the new bill provides that if a flock is infected, the owner shall have Lhree months time allowed to clean it in without any penalty. That any one owning a clean flock of sheep will sign it I cannot believe, as the act i 3 evidently drawn up for their protection. And being one who likes to see justice done to all, I would certainly advice those who have not already signed the petition, to make themselves aquainted with the true state of the case, when they will learn that the object of the petition is to secure impunity to the owners of the infected flocks. I am, &c, PROTECTION.

Nelson, 26th June, 1865,