AGY-7004 | Wagga Wagga Board of Sheep Directors

Full description

Background

Sheep Districts
From 1832 concern over outbreaks of scab and catarrh in sheep led to the introduction of legislation to control the spread of such diseases. (1) Under the Scab in Sheep Act of 1863 (Act 27 Vic. No.6) the Governor could proclaim ‘Scab Districts’ with the coastal area inland to 30 miles to be known as the ‘Coast Scab District’. (2) A Chief Inspector of Sheep was to be appointed with power to inspect sheep in the whole colony and also in the Coast Scab District. Sheep Directors were also to be elected annually in each district with the power to appoint Inspectors and were themselves to be Inspectors. (3) Under the Diseases in Sheep Act of 1866 (Act 30 Vic. No.16) the Colony was to be divided conveniently into Sheep Districts to be proclaimed by the Governor. (4) In each District there was to be an annual election for a Board of Directors, with five Directors appointed, including a Chief Inspector of Sheep appointed by the Governor, with all Directors being Inspectors of Sheep. (5)

Under the Pastures and Stock Protection Act of 1880 (44 Vic. No.11) there was to be a Board of eight Directors for each Sheep District, as proclaimed under the Diseases in Sheep Acts, with that Board composed of the Sheep Directors of the district with three owners of large stock to be elected annually and a Chairman and Secretary to be appointed. (6)

While the Sheep Directors served on the Pastures and Stock Protection Boards jointly with the large stock directors they continued to also serve separately as the Board of Sheep Directors for their distict. The Pastures Protection Act 1902 was to have the effect that: 'The existing Board of Sheep Directors, Pastures and Stock Protection Board, and Rabbit Board will disappear, and in their place there will be a Pastures Protection Board, which will deal with diseases in sheep, travelling stock, and the protection of pastures from rabbits and other pests.' (7)

The Pastures Protection Act 1902 (Act No.111, 1902), assented to 24 December 1902, repealed the whole of the Pastures and Stock Protection Act 1898 (Act No.14, 1898), the Rabbit Act 1901 (Act No.6, 1902) and sections 3 to 142 of the Stock Act 1901 (Act No.27, 1901) effectively abolishing the various Boards of Sheep Directors and the Rabbit Boards within each district. (8)

Wagga Wagga Sheep Directors
The first Wagga Wagga Sheep Directors were appointed on 20 June 1864. They were: James Cochran, Esq., Widgiewa, Urana; Thomas Wardle Hammond, Esq., Junee; George Forsythe, Esq., Wagga Wagga; Henry Wallace, Esq., Eunonyhareenyha; and Alexander McNeil, Esq., Yanko. (9)

The last Wagga Wagga Sheep Directors were appointed on 7 March 1899. They were: G.P. Wilson, Esq., Big Springs, Wagga Wagga; J.G. Fletcher, Esq,, Gobbogumbalin, Wagga Wagga; William Devlin, Esq., Ganmain, Wagga Wagga; W. M. Mouritz, Esq., Eunonyhareenyha, Bomen; and J. A. Gunn, Esq., Borambula, Wagga Wagga. (10)

The Wagga Wagga Board of Sheep Directors ceased on 24 December 1902, following the passing of the Pastures Protection Act 1902, when its functions became the responsibility of the Wagga Wagga Pastures Protection Board. (11)

Endnotes
1. Scab in Sheep Act of 1832 (Act 3 Gul. IV No.5) and Catarrh in Sheep Act of 1838 (Act 2 Vic. No.12).
2. Scab in Sheep Act of 1863 (Act 27 Vic. No.6), s.4.
3. Ibid., ss.5-7.
4. Diseases in Sheep Act of 1866 (Act 30 Vic. No.16), s.3.
5. Ibid. ss.4, 9, 13.
6. Pastures and Stock Protection Act of 1880 (44 Vic. No.11), ss.2-6.
7. Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW), 11 December 1902, p.2. 8. Pastures Protection Act 1902, (Act No.111, 1902), s.2 (1) and First schedule.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.126, 21 June 1864, p.1443.
10. NSW Government Gazette No.196, 7 March 1899, p.1919.
11. Pastures Protection Board