PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 1 



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possible that that animal might not be the one that introduced the disease, but 

 that another animal with a healthier constitution miglit not have communicated 

 it, and that it lingered about. He replied that that was quite possible, so that 

 where the disease came from could not be traced at present. There were only four 

 of the eighteen that had traces of being affected besides the first one. 



The Chairman said that he understood that the cattle grazed some distance from 

 the byres where they were accommodated. 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie — About a quarter of a mile distant. 



!Mr Pater.son asked what was tlie state of the lungs of the thirteen animals that 

 were not detected ? 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said the veterinary surgeon had stated that to all 

 appearance seventeen of the cattle were as healthy cows as were in Perth, but after 

 they were slaughtered four of them showed traces of disease. That was in addition 

 to the first animal. 



Mr Mackenzie of Portmore asked if other cattle were in the habit of using the 

 same road by which the animals referred to went to their grazing ? 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said it was the main road from Scone to Perth. The 

 traffic on the roads with cattle, except fat ones for sale and slaughter, was very small 

 indeed. 



The Secretaey asked if animals were not sent out from the cattle sales to graze 

 beyond Kincurathy ? 



Dean of Guild RIackenzie said that there was ground for grazing, but it was on 

 the other side of the town. 



The Chairman asked how wide was the infected area ? 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said it included the premises occupied and the ground 

 grazed by the owner of the cattle. 



The Ch.\irman said he wished to draw attention to a remark made by Dean of 

 Guild Mackenzie to the effect that at the loading-bank where the cattle would be 

 unloaded there would be no cattle for a considerable time. He understood it was a 

 place where no cattle were loaded at all. 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said it was sometimes used on Mondays by cattle going 

 to the sales. 



The Chairman said that that was a different statement from what had been made 

 before as to the loading-bank. 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said the railway company had told them that it would 

 not be used at any time before tlie Show. It was not used excejit on very rare 

 occasions, and that was by cattle going to Messrs Swan's mart. 



Mr HowATSON said it was distinctly imderstood, from what had been stated by the 

 deputation formerly, that the loading-bank had not been used, nor would be used, 

 as a siding before the Show. Now it had been used. He wished to know when the 

 Local Authority gave information to the Secretary here of the outbreak. 



Dean of Guild M.\CKENZIE said that, so far as the outbreak was concerned, the 

 usual information was given. It appeared in the newspapers. If there had been 

 any promise to communicate with the Secretary, they would have done so. They 

 had not been in the habit of communicating in that way, and to impute that there 

 was any desire to hide anything was wrong. 



Mr Macqueen asked if they were prepared to have a Show without the cattle rather 

 than no show at all ? 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said the deputation had thought over that matter, and 

 naturally they were not all of one opinion. They felt that a Show without the cattle 

 would not be so successful as otherwise, and they were reluctant to advise. They 

 would rather simply put the facts before the meeting. He thought Sir Robert 

 Menzies' motion at last meeting was to postpone the Show ; and they would decidedly 

 ask that if there were to be no cattle the Show should be held in Perth next 

 year. 



Mr Macduff of Bonhard asked whether the deputation were authorised to press 

 that the Show should be held this year, or whether they were merely sent to 

 give information ? 



Dean of Guild M.\CKENZIE said the deputation were sent to urge that no circum- 

 stances had emerged to alter the proposal to hold the Show. At the same time, if 

 the Board resolved to have a Show without cattle, the Local Authority would 

 endeavour to make it as successful as possible. 



The Chairman then said that, in the name of the Board, he retiu-ned their best 

 thanks to the deputation for laying the information before them. 



Treasurer WiLSON said that, so far as the Local Authority was concerned, they 

 had taken every precaution and every stej) to jirevent the sjuead of infection. 

 The dejmtation then withdrew. 



Mr Mackenzie of Portmore said he thought the Local Authority of Perth had been 

 remiss in not giving them information of the outbreak. 



