37

H.—2l

25. That Australasian horses and dogs, accompanied by a declaration by the owner and a certificate from the Inspector or veterinary surgeon at the port of shipment, be allowed to land on the permit of a Customs officer; but, in the event of any colony or colonies not carrying out the regulation requiring foreign dogs to be quarantined in Government quarantine grounds only, all dogs arriving either by sea or land from any such colony or colonies shall be deemed foreign stock. 26. That no Australasian stock be transhipped in any Australasian port without the permission of the Inspector. Miscellaneous. 27. That this Conference considers that M. Pasteur's vaccine of anthrax is effective, and recommends that assistance be given him in establishing agencies in all the colonies, with a view to those owners who require the vaccine obtaining and using it. 28. That the travelling, selling, or offering for sale, or slaughtering for food, of any animals affected by the diseases known as tuberculosis and actinomycosis, or the using of cows affected by tuberculosis and actinomycosis for dairy purposes, be punishable by law ; and that there be a more thorough inspection of dairy cattle in use in populous districts. 29. That the Conference expresses its belief in the efficacy of inoculation as preventive of pleuro-pneumonia. 30. That the Conference affirms the principle of compulsory inoculation for pleuro-pneumonia where the disease appears. 31. That on the Continent of Australia there be no restrictions against the free interchange of inoculated cattle, bearing the inoculation ear-mark, but that a declaration by the owner that the cattle have been duly inoculated accompany them. 32. That all sheep infected with catarrh be destroyed; that the owners be recompensed to the extent of two-thirds the value of sound sheep at the date of destruction ; and that the run or place on which the sheep were pasturing be strictly quarantined for six months. . 33. That, as the conditions are so various in the different colonies, each colony should legislate for itself, where practicable, on the subjects of fluke, worms, and foot-rot in sheep. 34. That the Government of Western Australia be urged by the Governments of the colonies represented at the Conference to take more energetic steps than those at present adopted for the speedy eradication of scab. 35. That steps be taken by the several Australasian Colonies to thoroughly eradicate ticks and lice in sheep. 36. That any animals found to be affected with glanders, farcy, foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, sheep-pox, swine-fever, rabies, trichinosis, or any other infectious or contagious disease not existing within the colonies be at once destroyed. 37. That it is desirable that an efficient and competent staff of Inspectors of Stock be maintained in each colony, to prevent the introduction and to arrest the spread of contagious or infectious diseases in each colony, and to give the other colonies confidence that the stock asked to be introduced are free from infection; and that where stock come from a colony in which such a staff is not maintained, the colony into which they are proposed to be introduced be entitled to put on such restrictions as it may deem necessary to impose by way of guarantee that such stock are not infected. 38. That it is desirable the Governments of Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia should exercise the greatest possible vigilance with respect to their northern ports to prevent the introduction of diseases from Eastern, Indian, or Chinese ports. 39. That regulations in regard to the travelling, movement, or conveyance of animals be left to be dealt with by each colony within its own boundaries. 40. That all drafts of laws or regulations dealing with the diseases of animals be, as far as practicable, submitted by the Government framing them to the Governments of the other colonies for remark before they become law; and that proofs of any papers or reports relating to pastoral matters, which would be likely to be of benefit or interest to stockowners generally, be also forwarded, in order that the other Governments may, should they see fit, order a supply of copies for distribution. 41. That this Conference affirms the desirability of establishing an Australasian laboratory or institution for the purpose of investigating and experimenting upon any diseases to which stock are or may become liable, particularly, in the first instances, pleuro-pneumonia, anthrax, and tuberculosis. 42. That the Inspectors of the'various slaughterhouses and dairies shall, as far as possible, be qualified veterinary surgeons. 43. That it is most desirable that a stud-book for horses, cattle, and sheep be kept in each colony as a register; and, as the best means to accomplish this end, the different representatives present be requested to communicate with their principal agricultural societies and associations of stock-breeders, and endeavour to prevail upon them to keep such register. 44. That the means hitherto in use in the different colonies that are infested with rabbits have not had the effect of materially reducing the number of those animals, and that, in consequence, the period of being relieved from the pest is still uncertain, thereby entailing continued loss to the pastoral and agricultural industries of the Australasian Colonies; and that joint action should be taken by the Governments of the different colonies to offer a bonus for a scheme that will lead to the more rapid extermination of the pest. 45. That the resolutions 1 to 8 hereunder, passed by the Royal Commission of New South Wales, and as altered by these resolutions, be the measures recommended by this Conference for dealing with the rabbit-pest: — (1.) That the responsibility for the destruction of rabbits, whether on freehold or on leasehold land, must rest on the landholder. That with respect to unoccupied Crown lands the State must accept similar responsibility.