EMBARGO DEFENDED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 152, 9 April 1930, Page 3

EMBARGO DEFENDED.

IMPORTATION OF CATTLE. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. (Special to the “Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, April 8. “It can readily be realised,” said the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 0. W. Forbes) to-day, “that British farmers find it difficult to understand why the importation of cattle, sheep, and pigs from the United Kingdom is still prohibited, notwithstanding the establishment of a quarantine station at London in which animals for export are kept under quarantine conditions for two weeks before being shipped, a period amply long enough to enable foot-and-moutli disease to .manifest itself in any animal infected before entering the station. In considering this, it is necdssary to bear in mind the fact that New Zealand is free irom many‘serious diseases ex? isting in older countries; and that both the Government and the farmers of the Dominion have always been deeply impressed with the necessity for doing all that is possible to prevent the introduction of any of these. Hence ’ a general policy of precaution, which may appear extreme in some respects, is held to be warrantable in the circumstances, and this general principle is fully endorsed by. the farming community. As regards ioot-and-moutli disease in particular, the community view it with special concern, this being accentuated by information received from travelling farmers who have observed the heavy losses incurred through it in other countries where it exists, and by a realisation of how serious and widespread would be the loss to the Dominion if it became epidemic here, especially as the country is dependent lor its financial stability upon the production and marketing of Jive stock products. “The measures taken by the British Government to ensure the shipment ot animals free from foot-and-mouth infection are fully known, and their value fully appreciated, but notwithstanding these measures, and the additional precaution of quarantine at this end, there is -a great preponderance of feeling among the pastoral community against the removal of the present embargo. The whole question has been lately gone into by the Board of Agriculture, a very representative body acting in an advisory capacity to the Government, but the Board did not feel justified in recommending any alteration except as regards cattle irom the island of Jersey, if transhipped without being landed in England. Also, the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union, at its meeting last week, unanimously passed an unqualified, resolution that the present restrictions should continue.

“Information lately received from the High Commissioner’s office is to tlie effect that the quarantine station at the London docks is working very satisfactorily, and it is sincerely to he hoped that the strenuous and thorough measures taken hy the authorities in the United Kingdom to stamp out the disease will prove successful. “While the Dominion is still selfcontained as regards a number of breeds, there are others for*which new blood is needed, and the question of how to meet the position will soon need to be given very full consideration. Reference from time to time been made to animals of British origin brought to New Zealand via Canada or the United States. Tt must be pointed out that no live stock can lie introduced from these countries unless accompanied hy a certificate in proper form that they are in good health and have been bred there or domiciled there for a period of not less than six months. Also, in the case of the United States, the prior consent of the Minister of Agriculture for their introduction is necessary.”