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till the middle of February. Accompanying the permits should be 
the orders and letters of credit for purchase and expense. The 
agent can then go right ahead and select the stock, have them 
registered in the Herd book, arrange for their shipment and for 
the tuberculosis test. Even if already registered the pedigrees 
may have to be sent again to the editor of the Herd book to have 
them certified to in proper form. 
There is only one steamship line (running bi-monthly trips) 
and generally leaving in the first week in the month, that is now 
available for carrying stock. The other lines are compelled to 
put on a prohibitive freight rate, so it will easily be seen that if 
the permits arrive in New Zealand after a part of the time limit 
has gone, the chance of getting the stock shipped is liable to be 
missed and much disappointment will result both to buyers, sellers 
and agent. This is exactly what has happened on two occasions 
this year. On the first occasion the time limit was for two months 
and the permits arrived close on the end of the first month. The 
other was for three months and' arrived in the middle of the sec- 
ond month. In sending for permits ample time should therefore 
be allowed, as a few weeks unavoidable delay in the transmittal 
might make them useless on account of the sailing time of vessels. 
It would be better, if the Department would grant it, to have the 
time limit longer, and they should begin and end in the middle 
of the respective months. 
A great variety of pure bred stock can be got in New Zealand 
and many of the stud flocks and herds are kept up to a high 
standard of breeding, changes being imported from England at 
high prices. 
Arriving at Suva last May, by the courtesy of the Hon. A. W. 
Mahaffy, Colonial Secretary of Fiji, I was given a passage in the 
Government steamer Ranadi on her annual trip to refit in New 
Zealand. This brought me to Auckland in time for the winter 
show. By waiting for the regular steamer or going via Sydney I 
would have missed this exhibition. 
Meeting some of the stock breeders there, I was introduced to 
the Hon. John D. Ritchie, Secretary of Agriculture, and Mr. E. 
Clifton, Chief Inspector of Stock. The need of the recognition 
in the United States of the New Zealand Herd and Flock books 
was brought to their notice, with the result that steps have since 
been taken to have this done, so that the 27^% of duty will be 
eliminated, if nothing is found to prevent the books being recog- 
nized. Prices vary greatly and it is not desirable to buy anything 
but first class stock, where so much has to be gone through to get 
the animals shipped. 
There is nothing whatever now to prevent stock being imported 
from New Zealand if the permits and money are sent there in 
time, and the resolution complied with. Pure bred shorthorn 
cattle can be entered free of duty and the duty on sheep is light. 
