428 THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA. 
the introduction of all stock from without for a time. He agreed 
with Mr. Mitchell that it would not do to prohibit the introduction 
of foreign stock for all future time; but we had here plenty of 
good sheep and cattle, enough for our own wants, and under these 
circumstances he thought the most sensible course the Governments 
of the different colonies could adopt would be to frame a series of 
regulations which, if they would not prohibit the introduction of 
foreign stock, would prohibit their introduction without passing 
such a period in quarantine as would render the introduction of the 
disease practically impossible. To prohibit the coming in of all 
stock from without until the disease disappeared from England 
would not do, because that might never be. He would move:— 
“ That this meeting would respectfully urge upon the Government 
of Victoria that the danger of introducing the foot and mouth 
disease is one which affects the whole community, inasmuch as the 
human being is said to be liable to that disease. That the com¬ 
mercial interests of the community would be jeopardised by the 
fear of preserved meats being affected. That the Government be 
therefore respectfully requested to co-operate with the Governments 
of New South Wales, Queensland, &c., in taking steps to prevent 
the introduction of stock from foreign parts without stringent 
quarantine regulations.” Then came the question of the possible 
introduction of the disease from the other colonies. The foot and 
mouth disease having appeared in Sydney, he thought it was our 
duty to prevent the introduction of the disease from thence into 
this colony. 
Mr. Kirk .—Is it proved that the disease has appeared in Sydney, 
or is it only assumed? 
Mr. M'Knight had no personal knowledge ; his information was 
obtained from the reports of others. 
Mr. Kirk .—It is contradicted in to-day’s papers. 
Mr. M ( JDougall .—Only as regards sheep. 
Mr. M l Knight had never heard the report questioned, so far as 
regarded the existence of the disease amongst cattle at Sydney. 
He thought it might be assumed that the disease existed there, and 
it was to be remembered that although pleuro-pneumonia was first 
brought here directly by sea, it was afterwards in many instances 
reintroduced by cattle coming across the border. As the law now 
stood, we possessed all the necessary machinery for placing an 
inspection upon the cattle and sheep coming into this colony. At 
this moment the Government possessed the power to appoint an 
inspector of all diseased animals, and he thought the scab inspectors 
might receive this power. The Government seemed disposed to 
throw over the scab question altogether, and leave the disease to be 
dealt with by private hands; but in the face of this new danger, 
perhaps they would continue to employ the scab inspectors, and 
make them also inspectors of all diseased animals. 
Mr. B. K. Hammond pointed out that all the cattle which had 
come in for some time past had come under the examination of the 
inspector for the Melbourne district. No cattle were even now 
