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This article was published in 1953
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
The Pastures Protection Board
E. A. FARLEIGH. B.V.SC., Inspector of Stock, Glen Innes-Inverell
[This short article, prepared somewhat in this form originally for a special supplement to a "local" newspaper, no doubt will appear very elementary to even the newest of our own members. It is noteworthy, though, that the constitution of the P.P. Boards in this State is something quite distinct; while the appointment and functions of the Inspector of Stock attached to the Board really are unique.
For those reasons it is anticipated that this outline will be of considerable interest to our many readers in other States, as well as to those overseas; while no doubt it contains at least something not fully realised previously by many stockowners in New South Wales.—EDITOR.]
New South Wales is the only State in Australia that has an organisation known as a Pastures Protection Board. The Boards, of which there are fifty-nine in the State, are set up under an Act of Parliament, known as the Pastures Protection Act. This act defines the constitution of a Board, and provides for the election of eight directors for a term of three years. The directors on taking office elect a chairman from their number each year, and are entrusted with the duty of carrying out the provisions of the Act.
All ratepayers (land and/or stock-owners) in the District have the right of voting for the election of a Director and any ratepayer may stand for election if he is proposed and seconded by two other ratepayers.
The Act provides for the employment of certain staff by the Board to enable it to function. The Board may call for applications for the position of Secretary and, if necessary, more than one Rabbit Inspector. If the selected candidates are approved by the Minister for Agriculture, the appointments may be confirmed. The Board may employ such field staff as it thought necessary to carry out maintenance work on reserves and stock routes under its control.
The Inspector of Stock is in a completely different category, in that he is appointed to a District by the Minister and the Board has no say in such an appointment.
The Secretary has the responsibility of keeping the books, attending to all Board correspondence, minutes of meetings, payment of accounts, and keeping check on all the financial matters and generally running all the office work associated with the Board's activities.
The Board, on being organised, has the power to rate landholders in the District on the number of stock owned, or in the case of land that is unstocked or understocked on the estimated carrying capacity of such land. The amount of the rate may vary according to the needs of the Board, but there is a fixed maximum set down in the Act. The rates may include a levy for noxious animals and weeds.
The monies raised by the rates pay the salaries of the officers of the Board, excepting the reserve workmen, and cover the expenses associated with the functioning of the Board; such as offices, stationery and other incidentals that are necessary in the running of any undertaking. Many Boards exercise which they have of providing, from this General vehicles for the Inspector of Stock and/or the Board Officers.
The money raised to pay the reserves workers and to maintain and carry out improvements on stock routes is derived from stock permits. All stock that travel on roads and stock routes are required to obtain a permit, the cost of which varies according to the number of stock and the distance to be travelled. This money is paid into a Reserves Improvement Fund and can be used on reserves work only.
What are the benefits derived by landholders from the Board which they maintain?
Firstly, the services of the Inspector of Stock, who is a qualified Veterinary Surgeon, are available to all ratepayers for the control of any disease outbreaks among the stock on any property; and what is much more important, the prevention of disease conditions by suitable drenching, vaccinating und other methods of disease control. Advice is readily available also in regard to the management and feeding of animals, particularly in areas where pasture improvement is being carried out to an ever-increasing extent.
The treatment of individual sick animals does not come within the duties of the Inspector of Stock, although advice is given often, and treatment also, when an emergency arises. Where a Veterinary Practitioner is established it is expected that his services will be obtained for such isolated cases. The Inspector of Stock, being an officer of the Department of Agriculture, carries out duties in regard to certain notifiable diseases by quarantine restrictions and the supervision of the movement of any diseased stock. This is particularly important as it relates to such diseases as Pleuro pneumonia, Anthrax and lice infestation in sheep; and the strict inspection of stock from overseas to prevent the introduction into this country of diseases which, up to now, fortunately do not occur here.
The Inspector also supervises the travelling stock within his District and directs the reserve men in maintaining reserves in a suitable condition for the use of travelling stock. He supervises the Rabbit Inspector in his work and generally keeps an eye on everything that is going on within the District.
The Rabbit Inspector, in carrying out detailed inspection of properties with regard to the degree of rabbit infestation, can do an immense amount of good by urging on those who tend to neglect their obligations. This naturally protects and assists neighbours, who are striving to keep their properties clean. In certain cases legal action by the Board is necessary to compel a few owners to do their part.
The Board has under its control many thousands of acres of land known as travelling stock reserves and travelling stock routes; these having been set aside to assist the movement of stock. By improvements, such as fencing, provision of water facilities, eradication of noxious weeds and rabbit control, this land becomes most valuable for the stock moving from one area to another and to and from saleyards, trucking centres,etc. Reserves are used extensively in drought times to allow stock to move to better pastures, and in genuine cases agistment may be granted on the reserves to owners whose feed or water has given out.
The Board appoints a number of Permit Officers in various parts of the District to facilitate the obtaining of the necessary permits, to enable stock to travel legally. Some Boards also con tribute may hundreds of pounds yearly to Dingo Destruction Boards to assist in ridding infested areas of one of the State's greatest pests.
The allocation of orands and earmarks for sheep is the responsibility of the Board and assistance can be given in choosing a suitable brand or mark for owners. It is necessary for the Board's officers to see that there is no duplication of marks and that there is not too much similarity between neighbours* marks, so that no confusion of ownership can arise.
Another indirect contribution to stock-owners made by the Board is the annual grant to Glenfield Research Station, which is the main diagnostic and research centre in the State. The Boards have for years paid the salary of a Research Officer of this Station. To Glenfield are forwarded specimens collected in the field for pathological and bacteriological examination, to determine causes of disease outbreaks; blood samples for routine testing and any other material which requires laboratory examination. Many research projects have been carried out over the years, and these have proved of distinct benefit to stockowners throughout the State.
Thus the Pastures Protection Board has become part of the lives of the stockowners and is accepted generally, as are Shire and Municipal Councils, as being a very valuable form of local government and an important link between the stock man and the Department of Agriculture. Many problems which cannot be solved directly, can be referred to the Division of Animal Industry for clarification, legal opinion or other guidance.
Any stockowner, therefore, can feel that from his local Pastures Protection Board he can receive advice and assistance on general stock matters, and can call on the knowledge and experience of a large number of trained Departmental Officers, who have gained their knowledge from years of work in this State and overseas.