Principal Agricultural Acts of the Union. 269 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL ACTS OF 

 THE UNION. 



An Outline of the Diseases of Stock Act, No. 14 of 1911. 



The Act. 



The first portion oi the iVct deals with the importation of stock into 

 the Union. No stock may be introduced unless a permit is previously 

 obtained from the Principal Veterinary Oificer, or unless in the case 

 of special regulations being- published they are complied with. 

 Animals from oyersea are quarantined at the seaport for 28 days at 

 least, and cattle are su!)jected to the tuberculin test, and any which 

 react are immediately destroyed, or may be returned at the owner's 

 expense. But wlicn imported from any country v-hich has an 

 approved Govejijment Testino- vStation (and the station at Pirbright, 

 England is the only one sucii at present) cattle may be admitted 

 if they have been isolated 28 days, and thereafter satisfactorily passed 

 the tuberculin test and sent forward direct for shipment. [See Act 

 (Amending) No. 25 of 1916.] 



Where stock have lawfully entered the Union (througli the pre- 

 scribed sea or inland ports of entry) and are found infected, or sus- 

 pected of being infected, with disease, they are liable to destruction 

 or removal, or retention under certain restrictions ; if unlawfully 

 introduced they are also liable to destruction without compensation. 



The second portion of the Act regulates the movements of stock 

 within the Union. The first feature is that any outbreak, or sus- 

 pected outbreak, of disease must immediately be reported l)y the 

 owners of the stock to the authorities, who will issue instructions 

 as to the isolation and treatment generally of the stock in questio]i. 

 The land on which such diseased animals are found will then be re- 

 garded a " suspected area," and thereafter (if the suspicion is con- 

 firmed) declared an " infected area." The situation and extent of 

 such areas are published in the Gazette. Where public roads are con- 

 cerned conspicuous notices to that e&'ect, stating the disease, are dis- 

 played. The declaration of "infected areas" is a dominant feature, 

 for the movement of stock within or out of such parts of the country 

 is subject to stringent p]ecautions, and can only be done under per- 

 mit; even the individual may be prevented from leaving the area. The 

 removal, except under permit, of the carcass or any part thereof of 

 stock that has died, or is suspected of having died, of disease, is not 

 allowed; all such must be burnt, buried, or disposed of according to 

 regulations. Where a farmer finds stock on his property which may 

 have strayed or been illegally moved from a suspected or infected area, 

 he must isolate them and report the occurrence to the nearest magis- 

 trate or other ofiicial, and the owner of such stock v/ill be liable for any 

 costs incurred. In the same way, any one finding stock in an infected 

 area must isolate same and repcu't immediately. The impounding 



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