SPREAD OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA IN AUSTRALIA. 193 
the past week most alarming reports have appeared in the 
local papers as to the spread of the terrible scourge of pleuro 
among the herds at Lancefield, Gippsland, and in the western 
district; there is also good reason to believe that another fatal 
malady is being erroneously set down as contagious pleuro. 
No official investigation took place in connection with the 
cattle that died recently on the Geelong common, but we 
have the authority of several practical men for stating that 
the cause of death was something distinct from the well-known 
lung disease. The time, in our opinion, has come when in 
place of the periodical replies given in Parliament by the Chief 
Secretary to the effect that Mr. Curr assures him there is no- 
•> 
thing amiss, a thoroughly competent aud authoritative exami¬ 
nation should be made, and report submitted, as to the nature 
and extent of the stock diseases that are beyond doubt rapidly 
extending. 
We have frequently pointed out the anomalous position of the 
present Stock Department, and the utter hopelessness of any 
improvement being possible while conducted in its present 
form and under its present management. The department is 
not only a heavy charge upon the revenue of the State, but the 
results obtained in exchange for the money expended are worse 
than nil . While engaged in scab eradication the officers of 
the department were saved from the charge of incapacity that 
now attaches to them, because of the manner in which they 
were supervised, and their movements directed under the local 
committee system. We would advise a reformation of the de¬ 
partment in this direction with the least possible delay. Let 
the present ineffective management give place to a recon¬ 
struction upon the basis of the New South Wales system, and 
the requirements of the colony in this matter will be met. 
That system, it may be necessary to state, includes, first, the 
selection, appointment, direction, and oversight of the stock 
inspectors by local boards appointed from among themselves 
by the stock-owners; and, second, the payment of their 
salaries by a light tax levied upon all the stock of the colony 
for the purpose by the Government. The Government col¬ 
lects the tax, and forwards the salaries to the local boards. 
There is only one Government officer, the Chief Inspector, 
who resides in Sydney, and with him the local boards commu¬ 
nicate, but in all matters pertaining to the management of their 
own districts and their own inspectors they are uncontrolled. 
The advantages of this system are that as the stock-owners 
pay for keeping their flocks and herds clean, and have the se¬ 
lection and control of their own officers, they take care not 
only to appoint competent men in the first place, but also to 
