Full description
The Pastures and Stock Protection Act, 1880-98 (44 Vic. No.11 [1880] and No.14, 1898) provided for a Pastures and Stock Protection Board to be established in each Sheep District of the colony. The eight members of a Board were elected by local livestock owners; their duty was to ensure destruction of all noxious animals of the district within the operation of the Act and to pay rewards for such destruction. Funds were raised by a levy on stock, the "Noxious Animals Destruction Account", and each Board was required under the Act to keep account books. The administration of this Act was divided between the Stock Branch of the Mines Department and the Rabbit Branch of the Lands Department. (1)
The following were elected Pasture Directors for the Sheep District of Tamworth from 15 October 1880: Charles Baldwin, Manilla; Samuel Clift, Breeza; A. Rodgers, Attunga; P.G. King, Goonoo Goonoo; John Gill, Moonbi; J.W. Jones, Bando; J.M.L. McDonald, Wallabadah; and, R. Earwaker, Wallhallow. (2)
In 1902 the Pastures Protection Act 1902 (Act No.111, 1902) was passed to consolidate and amend Acts relating "to the protection of pastures and livestock from the depredations of noxious animals...". It provided for the constitution of Pastures Protection districts including one in Tamworth and the establishment of Pastures Protection Boards consisting of seven locally elected members for each district. Expenses and rewards for scalps were to be met by rates upon sheep and large stock as well as by fines, penalties and subsidies, all of which formed the Pastures Protection Fund. The Act was administered by the Secretary for Lands and each Board was required to pay three per cent of its annual revenue to the Treasury and to keep minute and account books to be presented when required for inspection.
The First Board under the 1902 Act comprised on Robert Gill, Moonbi (Chairman), G.B.G. King, Goonoo Goonoo, J. Perry of Pine Ridge, W.D. Simpson of Trinkey, J.M.L. Macdinald of Wallabadah, F.J. Croaker Clifton, Currabubula and F.T. Payne of Nundle. (3)
The Act was amended in 1904 and 1906 and later replaced by the consolidating Pastures Protection Act of 1912 (Act No.35, 1912), which Act was amended in 1918 and 1920.
Until 1990 the basis of legislation was the Pastures Protection Act of 1934 (Act No.35, 1934) administered by the Department of Agriculture. There were fifty-eight Pastures Protection Districts each with a Board of eight members who administered provisions of the Act concerning the maintenance of reserves and routes for travelling stock. Under this Act all travelling stock had to be accompanied by a permit. In the coastal and central districts a travelling charge was levied, the money from which went into the Reserves Improvement Fund. Veterinary inspectors, rangers and rabbit inspectors were employed as field staff. The Boards were required to present annual financial statements to the Department and to pay three per cent of annual revenue to the Treasury. They were also required to send in annual stock returns.
The Rural Lands Protection Act (No.197, 1989), which was assented to 21 December 1989, consolidated and updated the provisions of the Pastures Protection Act 1934, the Registration of Stock Brands Act 1921 (Act No.14, 1921) and the Noxious Insects Act 1934 (Act No.22, 1934).
The Act provided for the constitution of rural lands protection districts (formerly pastures protection districts). It also provided for the establishment of rural lands protection boards and for existing Pastures Protection Boards to become Rural Lands Protection Boards.
As of 2006 there were 48 Boards throughout the State.
On 1 January 2014 all Rural Lands Protection Boards were abolished under the Local Land Services Act 2013. (4)
Endnotes
1. This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.
2. NSW Government Gazette No.404, 15 October 1880, pp.5372-5273.
3. Jim Hobden, History of Tamworth, 2005, p.65.
4. Local Land Services Act 2013 (Act No.51, 2013), Schedule 6, cl. 4 (1).
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