SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
supervise the work carried out by the local atthorities. For many 
years after the Act came into operation, all the members of this special 
staff were qualified veterinarians, and the employment of officers of 
the highest possible standard was wndoubtedly sound, as it guaranteed 
the efficacy of the service to the general public, and offered stock-owners 
a desirable protection against their property being wrongly confiscated. 
As the result, a considerable amount of progress was made in the control 
of bovine tuberculosis, which, unfortunately, has not been maintained. 
Not only has no advancement been made in the methods of controlling 
the disease, but there are signs of distinct retrogression, for at the 
present time there is no qualified veterinarian on the staff of the Depart- 
ment of Public Health, and the inspection. of dairies is carried out solely 
by lay inspectors. Moreover, the existing staff of about fourteen 
inspectors is quite insufficient to supervise the health of over 500,000 
milking cows belonging to more than 20,000 dairies scattered over a 
huge territory. In fact, many individual herds are not seen once-a 
year. further, the Dairies Supervision Act is in need of considerable 
‘amendment to become an efficient measure for suppression of animal 
diseases in dairy herds, and recommendations made by a special Com- 
mittee over eight years ago have not yet been given effect to, although 
it is understood that the matter received consideration. 
Tuberculosis is but one of many diseases (anthrax, contagious abor- 
tion, tick pest, &c.) that cause grave losses to the revenue of the State. 
amounting to over a million pounds sterling each year; and, in the 
opinion of Professor Stewart, the time has arrived for the consideration 
of a more comprehensive scheme of control than now exists to check 
this leakage, and to improve our flocks and herds. With this objéet 
in view, he strongly urges that consideration be given the desirability 
of consolidating the various Acts dealing with animal diseases, and 
effecting requisite amendment; amalgamating the inspectorate now 
working under three different State Departments to obviate overlapping, 
effect economy, and improve the service; creating a “ Live Stock Board,” 
on which the industries vitally concerned might with advantage have 
representation; employment of additional inspectors with full veterinary 
qualifications; extension of advisory services to stock-owners, with 
‘appointment of resident veterinary officers to the more Important 
districts; providing for scientific investigation to discover more effective 
and economic methods of controlling animal diseases. 
In conclusion, stock-owners were appealed to for whole-hearted. 
co-operation, and strongly advised to immediately destroy animals 
affected with serious infectious diseases, and to isolate all suspects until 
authoritative opinion is obtained; to exercise greater care in the selec- 
tion of breeding cattle; to improve their methods of animal husbandry, 
particularly in regard to rearing and feeding, so as to increase the 
animals’ resistance against disease; and to improve the sanitary 
condition of sheds, cattle-yards, calf-pens, &¢. The necessity of 
disinfecting railway trucks after carrying live stock was also referred to. 
4 
626, 
a 
(eit tient ie 
