The farmers are still pressing the Government to arrest the
cattle plague, either by prohibiting the introduction of foreign beasts, or by enforcing the immediate destruction of every infected animal. The Government is, however, most reluctant to do either. To prohibit importation would be to raise the price of meat to an un- endurable figure, and Government has no power to compel sanitary precautions. All it can do at present is to request foreign Govern- ments to make their inspection strict, to order its Custom-house officers not to pass any suspected oxen, and to send inspectors to every menaced district to warn and instruct the farmers, and these things it is doing. This might be sufficient, but for another danger. The poorer owners cannot bear to sacrifice their money altogether, so they sell the carcases cheaply, and three great seizures have been made this week, in one instance nearly 4,0001b. of diseased meat being found in pickle. With the cholera advancing upon us this practice cannot be tolerated, and Government will soon be compelled to enforce the execution and burial of the diseased cattle.
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