130 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jun, 1901. 
justified, as sensible men, on relying on our own practical experience. I under- 
stand science to be knowledge. Ii it is not knowledge, it is theory, and 
practice will not bear it out. I may say, further, that I feed my pigs con- 
tinuously on milk, and I have never had a case of tuberculosis in animals of 
my own breeding. I remember, however, buying half-a-dozen pigs which had 
not been fed with milk in the early stages of their growth. Four out of these 
were condemned for disease. 
CATTLE QUARANTINE LINES AND REGULATIONS. 
Mr. J. McPuerson (Rockhampton): The subject of tick quarantine lines 
is a very important one, and, doubtless, many of the delegates came here to: 
hear it discussed. With your permission, I would like to say afew words upon 
it. The cattle industry is a very important one, and there is no doubt that the 
present quarantine regulations have interfered with it very much. I can give 
you one or two instances as far as the Central district is concerned. At Lake’s 
Creek there is a very large and important meat manufacturing establishment, 
as all of you are doubtless aware, and a good many cattle are killed there, 
provided the management can get them. At the present time the quarantine 
line prevents them from getting cattle from the north-west portion of the State. 
It is too far to drive them from that part to Lake’s Creek. Longreach is the 
terminus of our Central Railway, and, provided the owners of the cattle could 
get them to Longreach, they could truck them to Rockhampton. But Long- 
reach is some 4 miles or 5 miles to the south of the present quarantine line. 
The cattle can come within 4 miles or 5 miles of the terminus of a railway 427 
miles away from the desired destination, but no further. To drive them, a 
distance of between 400 miles and 500 miles would have to be traversed. The 
other day two mobs of cattle started from the south of the quarantine line. 
One lot was travelling to Brisbane and the other lot was travelling for sale, 
it being intended, with regard to the latter lot, if they could not be sold in 
Brisbane, to send them on to New South Wales. During the march, word came 
back to the second lot that ticks were ahead. The first mob that was intended 
to be fattened on the Brisbane River was allowed to go on, but the other mob 
had to be turned back and sent round a circuitous route of an extra 200 miles. 
As far as I can see, and I have contended so for a long time, New South 
Wales dominates the position. They have done so from the start. Ido not 
think Queensland should submit to that, and I contend it would make no 
difference, or very little difference, if they did close the border entirely. They 
have not a supply of cattle for their own requirements, or anything near it, 
and if they would not allow our cattle to go in by road, they would have to get 
them in by sea in the shape of chilled meat. We should not submit to these 
quarantine regulations and vexatious interferences imposed upon us by another 
State. The time has arrived when Queensland should assert herself and tell 
New South Wales she is not to be dictated to. If New South Wales wants a 
buffer area, let her have it on her own territory. I contend that by dipping 
cattle they can travel safely. It we have dips at intervals of seven days, there 
is not the least danger of the cattle carrying ticks. Iam satisfied that dipping 
kilis ticks. The dip that I use consists of 2 Ib. of arsenic, 4 Ib. of soda, and 
100 gallons of water. If you make it make it stronger it is likely to have an 
ill effect on the younger cattle. If you make it up to 3 Ib. of arsenic it cracks 
the skin on the cattle, but 2 lb. will clear any ticks I have just opened the 
question for the purpose of creating a discussion. Unfortunately, Mr. R. S. 
Archer, who was to have introduced this matter, and who would have laid it 
more ably before you than I have, was unable to attend the Conference. The 
other representative of the Central Queensland Stockowners’ Association, Mr. 
T. 8S. Huggins, has also been called away to Krisbane. I have used Stockholm 
tar for ticks, but gave it up. One application of the dip 1 have already 
mentioned will destroy ticks. Three days after the operation you will find 
dead ticks on the animal, but to be perfectly safe I would dip at intervals of 
seven days. i 
