668 



Sheep Scab. 



[FEB., 



sideration of the problem by those upon whom would rest the 

 duty of carrying the operation into effect will, it is thought, 

 lead to the conviction that any such attempt would not be 

 likely to be attended with success. 



23. On the other hand the Board would not withhold from 

 an individual Local Authority the powers necessary to carry 

 compulsory general dipping into effect within their district, pro- 

 vided that after full consideration it is decided that the operation 

 might be properly undertaken. Any Resolution to that effect 

 adopted by an Executive Committee should, however, be sup- 

 ported by a similar Resolution of the County Council as a 

 whole, and the Board in that event would require that detailed 

 proposals as to the methods proposed to be adopted should be 

 laid before them. So soon as the scheme had been provisionally 

 approved the Board would deem it necessary that the draft 

 Regulations should be published in the locality for a sufficient 

 period, so as to allow of objections being stated by the persons 

 interested before the final approval of the Board was given. 

 Publicity of this character would be calculated to secure that 

 the public opinion of the district was favourable to the experi- 

 ment, and without such support success is not likely to be 

 attained. 



24. In initiating measures to secure the eradication of this 

 troublesome disease at a moment when the decrease in the 

 number of outbreaks reported gives rise to the hope that a 

 united effort may be attended with speedy success, the Board 

 trust that they may rely upon the goodwill and support not 

 only of Local Authorities, but of flockmasters and others 

 connected with the sheep trade generally. Any steps of this 

 nature must be attended with temporary inconvenience, and 

 success is not to be hoped for without considerable immediate 

 expenditure in matters connected with administration. If, 

 however, the belief is well founded that the action now pro- 

 posed will secure the eradication of Sheep Scab, the end 

 attained should amply recompense those concerned, and the 

 attainment of that end will the more speedily be secured by 

 the hearty co-operation of all concerned. 



I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, 



T. H. Elliott, Secretary. 



