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H.—2

were variations of experience in the different colonies, and the concentration and study of these would result in great benefit to all. Mr. Eitchie asked if Victoria agreed to co-operate. Mr. Beuce did not know what they intended to do. They had agreed to differ. Mr. Coleman Phillips supported the amendment, and agreed that if an Intercolonial Institute were established the location most suitable for it was Sydney. Mr. Eitchie affirmed the desirability of establishing such an Institute, and agreed that it was essential to have a thoroughly efficient staff. At the same time New Zealand was so isolated that, though it might get some general advantage, it would not get so much as might be desired. He thought the Government might be inclined to give a small sum towards establishing the Institute, merely for the general benefit of the colonies, but in his opinion the benefit would be primarily for New South Wales, or the colonies on the continent. Mr. Coleman Phillips pointed out that New Zealand was only three days' journey from New South Wales. It took far longer to go to the borders of New South Wales than to go from Auckland to Sydney. Amendment agreed to. Mr. Beuce moved, " That the word ' Australasian ' be inserted before the word ' laboratory ' in the first line." Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Proposed : "42. That the Inspectors of the various slaughterhouses and dairies shall, as far as possible, be qualified veterinary surgeons."—Agreed to. Proposed : " 43. That in the opinion of this Conference a Commission of experts should be appointed to investigate and report on all specific diseases known to exist throughout the Continent of Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania—namely, tuberculosis, actinomycosis, coccidium, Australian stringhalt, ophthalmia, pleuro-pneumonia, anthrax, and coast disease."—Negatived. Clause struck out. _ Proposed : "44. That the Conference recommends that the several Australasian Governments be asked to assist in giving encouragement to the fresh-meat trade by erecting suitable marketbuildings and chilled-chambers, establishing killing and chilling depots at the principal centres of stock traffic, putting on the necessary refrigerating-cars, carrying the meat at a reasonable rate, and adopting a uniform railway gauge."—Negatived. Clause struck out. Proposed : " 45. That it is most desirable that a stud-book for horses, cattle, and sheep be kept in each colony as a register; and as the best means to accomplish this end the different representatives present be requested to communicate with their principal agricultural societies, and endeavour to prevail upon them to keep such register." Mr. Beuce said that the clerical work necessary for establishing a stud-book, it had occurred to him, might easily be undertaken by the department of which he had charge, and ho had recommended this to his Minister some time ago if the breeders of the different descriptions of pure-bred stock would form themselves into associations and appoint their own committees to pass the entries and do what might be called the most important part of the work. The Minister approved of this proposal to a certain extent, and a circular was sent round to the Stock Boards to get their views upon it. He thought there were good prospects of his proposal being carried out. The expense would be very little, as he proposed to have the book printed in the Government Printing Office at the cost of the paper and wages. As he dealt with the registration of stock in his department, he could employ some of his staff in the stud-book work at small expense. Breeders' associations were quite common in the Old Country for the registration of thoroughbred horses and different kinds of animals, and he thought it only needed a little assistance such as he had mentioned to set the matter going all over the colonies. If that were done he saw no reason why the stud-books of the different colonies should not be taken as authoritative in connection with the pedigrees of the different kinds of stock. The Acting-Chaieman said they already had pedigree-books in New Zealand. The Canterbury Association issued a horse and cattle stud-book, and charged so much an entry and so much for the book to cover cost. It had proved sufficient up to the present time. The book was very well got up, and it was intended to publish it every two or three years, when they got a sufficient number of entries. That was so far as horses and cattle were concerned. With sheep it was very different: these were not known by name, and a record could not be kept. Their Canterbury friends were very enthusiastic in matters agricultural and pastoral, and had published an excellent volume. Mr. Murphy, the Secretary of the Association, took great interest in the work, and the Government had acknowledged it as the official publication. Mr. Eitchie stated there was a stud-book for thoroughbreds published privately in Nelson. Clause agreed to Proposed : "46. That the means hitherto in use in the different colonies that are infested with rabbits have not had the effect of materially reducing the number of those animals, and that, in consequence, the period of being relieved from the pest is still uncertain, thereby entailing continued loss to the pastoral and agricultural industries of the Australasian Colonies : and that joint action should be taken by the Governments of the different colonies to offer a bonus for a scheme that will lead to the more rapid extermination of the pest than that at present in use holds out the prospect of." Proposed : " That all words after the word ' pest' in the last line be omitted."—Agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Proposed: "47. That the resolutions 1 to 8, hereunder, passed by the Eoyal Commission and reported to the Government of New South Wales, be the measures recommended as altered for adoption by this Conference for dealing with the rabbit-pest. " (1.) That the responsibility for the destruction of rabbits, whether on freehold or on leasehold land, must rest on the landholder. That with respect to unoccupied Crown lands the State must accept similar responsibility."—Agreed to. 4—H. 2.