PART FI.
THE CHAIRMAN (Mr. Holm) said that he would like to have an
expression of opinion as to whether compulsory dipping was practicable
or advisable unless it was carried out universally and noted the effect
which dipping might have upon the immunity of native stock to tick
borne diseases.
Mr. VAN DEN ABEELE said it was the difficulty of universal
application which had suggested to his Government that the matter
should be brought before the Conference, as it had appeared to them
useless in certain countries to introduce pure stock unless dipping was
made universal.
THE CHAIRMAN (Mr. Holm) stated that in regard to Kenya no
compulsory dipping existed, either for native or for European stock.
The Cattle Cleaning Ordinance was passed in 1920, but it was
recognised that the element of compulsion should not be applied until
Government could give financial assistance in cases where the farmer
was unable to erect a dipping tank without aid.
Mr. VAN DEN ABEELE sald that it was the desire of his
Government to build dipping tanks at Government expense.
COLONEL DOHERTY suggested that perhaps what the Belgian
delegate desired was to establish comparisons between the value of
dipping applied to Europeans and the native reserves respectively. It
was quite evident that dipping was useless unless the Government was
able to control the movement of cattle, as it was possible for
Huropeans to maintain clean pastures with fencing and dipping while
infection existed in the neighbouring areas.
Mr. VAN DEN ABEELE referred to differential legislation in
respect of the dipping of cattle and Mr. Holm said ‘that it seemed to be
quite useless to force one class of stock-owners to dip their cattle, and
not the other and that unless it was made universal to all stockowners,
 native or European, in the same district good results could not
be obtained.
COL. DOHERTY stated that dipping without fencing was very
unsatisfactory, even when an attempt was made to control East Coast
fever on a single farm.
Mr. WORTLEY emphasised the importance of controlling the:
movement of stock.
COL. DOHERTY pointed out that in most cases the boundaries
between permanently infected and non-infected areas were natural
boundaries and that the incidence of East Coast fever was governed
by the ability of the tick to maintain itself uninterruptedly; this.
depended on conditions of moisture and warmth.
Mr. WORTLEY said that in the southern area of Nyasaland they
had cleaned up an infected areca and made dipping compulsory. The
European farmers allowed the natives to use their tanks on payment.
THE CHAIRMAN (Mr. Holm) stated that in certain native areas
in South Africa compulsory dipping was laid down. Stock Inspectors
had been appointed to see that natives brought their stock regularly to.
the Government dipping tanks, and he had learned that in Natal and
Transkei this procedure had been very successful.
The following Conclusion was adopted : —
That under existing conditions the compulsory dipping of
cattle by natives is. at present, impracticable over extensive.
areas.

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