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This article was published in 1942
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
THE DUTIES OF AN INSPECTOR OF STOCK UNDER THE PASTURES PROTECTION ACT
By F. IIILDRED. Inspector of Stock. Goulburn.
This article is written in the hope that it will be of some help to Inspectors starting in a district, and also to Veterinary Trainees who propose taking up duties as Inspectors of Stock, attached to Pastures Protection Boards.
Inspectors of Stock attached to Pastures Protection Boards work under several Acts. In this article, however, It is only proposed to deal with some of the main duties which should be carried out under the Pastures Protection Act. There will, therefore, be no reference to disease in stock as that subject is dealt with under another Act.
Pastures Protection Act: The Act is divided into various sections and deals with travelling stock, reserves, public watering places, rabbits and other noxious animals, sheep brands and marks.etc. Income and expenditure of Boards is governed by the Act.
Board: A Board consists of eight directors (one being Chairman).
Secretary and Rabbit Inspector: Boards appoint a Secretary and may also appoint one or more Rabbit Inspectors. Inspectors of Stock should endeavour to work in harmony with directors and officers of the Board. This will lead to greater efficiency. Inspector should freely discuss matters affecting the district with the Chairman of the Board between meetings, if necessary. In certain cases, it might be necessary to obtain the Chairman's approval for various matters.
Stock Office: The Inspector's work commences here. Keep the office clean and tidy. See that all papers are filed and indexed correctly. Answer correspondence promptly, keep copies, give correct reference numbers. Have a general appearance of efficiency about the office. Most offices are now well furnished and filing cabinets and typewriters provided. If it is considered necessary that more articles are required, however, a request to the Board will usually receive favourable consideration.
Keep a book in the office containing all necessary information about the various improvements. Details should be kept, such as sizes of pumps, tanks, depth of wells and bores, pipes, troughing all equipment, including make and size of windmill. This will save time and expense sending a man out to make inquiries if word is received at the office of a breakdown anywhere.
Attend to stockowners, drovers and others calling for advice. If necessary to travel out to a holding for an inspection, make sure of details such as location, roads to the holding.etc. Do not do any more travelling than necessary and do not make special trips unless urgent. Try and work several jobs in on the one tour.
When registration papers for sheep brands and marks are completed by the Secretary, the Inspector should check them over and make sure that any brands and marks about to be allotted are suitable and not likely to clash with those of adjoining owners.
Board Meetings: Inspectors should attend Board Meetings so as to be in a position to answer any inquiries arising from reports or other matters brought forward at the meeting. Be decorous and courteous at meetings and address the Chairman and do not enter into discussions with Directors across the table. Monthly reports should be completed and handed to the Secretary.
It is an advantage to present a further report to the Board in a more readable form, giving an outline of work carried out since last Board Meeting. In many cases it is necessary to furnish special reports on various matters such as contracts, reserves, prosecutions. Hand all reports, vouchers and other papers to the Secretary in time for that officer to check them before the Board Meeting. At the meeting note any instructions and check up later with the Secretary. If absent from the office always advise the Secretary where you can be located.
Rabbit Inspection: In districts where no Rabbit Inspector is employed, the Inspector of Stock must carry out the duties. Inspect private holdings, reserves, roads and any other lands in the district. Furnish report to the Board. See that instructions given to owners to destroy rabbits are carried out.
Rabbit-proof Fences: Netting fences on holdings for which owners only pay half rates should be inspected at least once a year and a report furnished to the Board. When inspecting fences work in a systematic way and proceed as follows:
Carry a notebook and rule, make a note of the general description and state of repair of the fence. Then walk along the fence and see if it is up to specification. Note any defects in the fence, examine if netting fastened to wires and strainers, examine gateways. bedlogs, flood gates, motor ramps, if stays have netting or other blocks on them, any trees leaning on the fence and any other matters which might render the fence not rabbit proof.
Reserves: The Inspector of Stock is responsible for the supervision of travelling stock and camping reserves and public watering places. He should regularly inspect, check up the improvements such as equipment at watering places, camping yards, and fences. He should also see that rabbits are not getting established on the reserves and that there are no loitering or stray stock. Small jobs which require attention are usually attended to by the Boards permanent employees or casual labour. Large jobs involving more expenditure should be reported to the Board.
Inspector should confer with the District Surveyor and Shire Engineer where matters affecting reserves concern them. If necessary. make a joint inspection. Before any works are started, if done by contract. Inspector should draw up a specification and contract, which must be signed by the Contractor before commencing work. Also make sure that the reserve is under Board control. On reserves where it is necessary to destroy some of the timber. this should be done with great judgment. Too much timber has already been destroyed on many reserves. Leave strips of trees at least a chain in width across reserves. These strips will act as windbreaks and shelter for stock and help to prevent soil erosion. Good timber trees and edible scrub should not be destroyed.
Fencing Reserves: The Board will decide if reserves are to be fenced, as there is a difference of opinion on this matter. If fenced, have wide gates so that drovers can take stock into the reserve easily. Have gates away from blocks such as trees and rocks and arrange them so that drovers can take a waggonette through the gateway.
Camping Yards: Camping yards for stock are a great convenience. Erect two yards and make sure that one is large enough to hold the maximum size flock likely to use it. Choose a level dry piece of ground and where glare from headlights of cars will not throw onto them. Avoid steep slopes as sheep might rush to the lower ground and smother. Erect T.S.R. notices at yards and reserves.
Soil Erosion: Inspector should note if soil erosion is taking place on reserves and report the matter to the Board with a recommendation how to prevent it. It is advisable for the Inspector to confer with Soil Conservation Officers on this matter. Too many pits have been opened on reserves for the removal of roadmaking material. The Inspector of Stock and Shire Engineer should make a joint inspection of reserves where it is proposed to remove material for roadmaking purposes. A site should be mutually agreed upon and then marked with four permanent posts. Material should then only be removed from the marked area. It will be necessary, of course, for the Inspector to have this action confirmed by the Board. In some cases it is necessary to fence off areas of reserves and keep stock off for a considerable time to allow grass and trees to grow and hold the soil together.
Noxious Weeds: Inspector should see that noxious weeds are cut at the right time and before they run to seed. If finances or time will not permit of the weeds being all cut in time, cut those in positions where they are likely to do the most harm such as about camping yards, gateways, trucking yards. Do not allow new weeds to get a hold on any reserve if it can be prevented.
Travelling Stock: A considerable amount of the Inspector's time will be taken up inspecting travelling stock in the charge of drovers. Give drovers necessary advice about the routes, feed water and camps. Be helpful to them so that they can deliver their stock in the best possible condition. If the drover is not looking after his stock properly endeavour to put him right. Drovers usually look to the Inspector for helpful advice when passing through a district.
The Act provides that stock must travel statutory distances daily. In many cases. however, and for various reasons, this is not possible, and the Inspector should be able to judge what is a reasonable distance to be travelled daily. So many factors enter into the matter that it is difficult to make any hard and fast rule.
Drovers will usually carry out instructions given by the Inspector. Endeavour to keep travelling stock on good routes. Avoid narrow roads, motor traffic and stony or rough surfaces where stock are likely to become lame or otherwise knocked about. Endeavour to regulate travelling stock so that they do not all use the one route. Check the Drover's permit, date of starting, mileage and brands and marks.
Water Supplies: It is well recognised that ample supplies of good water are necessary for travelling stock. Make sure that whatever kind of watering place is decided upon that it is big enough to deal with maximum size mobs likely to use it and also able to stand a spell of dry weather. In times of drought, when there is very little water available, stock will often manage to travel if there is plenty of feed.
Tools and Plant: In many districts the tools, plant and materials necessary for the carrying out of improvements on reserves are considerable. If men are expected to do good work they must have good equipment. All plant should be kept in good order. Arrange for the ganger or one permanent employee to keep plant in order. There should be a permanent place to store them when not in use.
Men should not have to waste time on jobs mending broken plant, fastening handles on,etc. This should all be done before jobs are started. A complete list of all plant and tools should be kept in the Inspector's office. This should be checked regularly as it is difficult to keep track of tools if many men have the handling of them.
Workmen: In some districts all work is done by contract. In others it is done by day labour or partly day labour and partly contract. If permanent labour is engaged, very little trouble is experienced as these men usually soon get to know what work is required.
The Inspector of Stock should get to thoroughly understand the various specifications of work required on the different jobs. He should make himself quite conversant with the different kinds of work which has to be done from time to time on reserves. He should then see that all works, whether by contract or otherwise, are carried out well and in a workmanlike manner.
The Inspector should handle workmen firmly but with fairness and understanding. If they are working under an Industrial Award, see that the terms of the award are carried out. Always put new men to work with a ganger or other permanent employee. Arrange with the Secretary of the Board for men to be paid at regular times.