MENACE TO COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 218, 15 September 1930, Page 17

MENACE TO COUNTRY.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. EFFORTS TO REMOVE EMBARGO. WILL BE STRENUOUSLY OPPOSED. That there is a strong difference of opinion on the question of lifting the embargo on the importation into New Zealand of live stock from Great Britain was manifested at a meeting of the council of the Auckland A. and P. Association. The subject has also been freely discussed in the South, with mixed results. The general consensus of opinion, however, appeared to be in the direction of allowing the embargo to stand. It was pointed out by Mr. J. P. Kalaugher at yesterday's meeting in Auckland that if the disease came to New Zealand this country would be absolutely. ruined. He was stroLgly against lifting the regulations. Latest advice received by the Government is to the effect that there had been three outbreaks of the disease in Yorkshire, and the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, has stated that in view of that fact it would be unwise to relax the regulations at present. Prior to that the Government had bad the matter of raising the embargo of imported stock /under consideration, especially in view of the statement that Great Britain had been clear of foot and mouth disease for sis months previously. Efforts to Lift Embargo. At yesterday's meeting of the executive of the A. and P. Association a letter from the New Zealand Board of Agriculture was read on the subject. It advised that the board had carried the followin o, resolution:— ° "(1) The Board of Agriculture feels that the time will soon be opportune for the removal of the embargo on the importation into New Zealand of livestock from Great Britain and considers that if Great Britain remains free from foot and mouth disease until the end of the current year stock from that country should be allowed to be imported into the Dominion subject to reasonable precautions. "(2) That a communication be sent from the board to all agricultural and pastoral associations, breed societies and the New Zealand Farmers 1 Union advising them of the present position in Great Britain, stating the board's opinion and asking them for their views." The letter, which, was dated August 20, also stated that "the present position regarding foot and mouth disease in Great Britain 'is that the country has been free from the disease since December, 1929, and that all restrictions inGreat Britain were withdrawn as from January 14, 1930." Auckland Not Impressed. It was also pointed out that New Zealand was the only country within the Empire which still prohibited the importation of stock from Great Britain. The Empire Marketing Board had established a quarantine .station in London which had been opened in April, 1928, and under its scheme the Royal Agricultural Society had administered the station as agents for the board, while the Ministry of Agriculture had been responsible for examining animals prior to admission. It was also responsible for visiting and inspecting the stock at least once every-day, and a final examination was made before each animal-was loaded. Pedigree stock were detained and isolated for 14-'-days immediately before shipment, a, period sufficient to cover the masimum period of incubation of foot and mouth -disease. Before, deciding upon the resolutions the New Zealand ""Board of Agriculture had given the- matter very careful consideration- it was stated, and it was satisfied that the importation into New Zealand of livestock from Great Britain through the quarantine station in London, and subject to reasonable quarantine. precautions at this end, could be permitted were "perfect safety as from the beginning of next year; provided that no further outbreaks of foot and mouth, disease occur." It was 6tated that the matter would be finally dealt with at the end of next month. Expressing the opinion that the country which had had foot and mouth disease should be free of it for at least five years before any stock from it was allowed into New Zealand, Mr. W. J. H. , Reynolds moved that the question should ' be referred to a sub-committee consistof Messrs. W. W. M&ssey, A. C. Trousdale, S. Austin Carr, A. C. Sexton, E. D. McLennan and J. P. Kalaugher for a report. Mr. Kalaugher was emphatic that the association should pass a resolution against any change, and he was supported by several members. Mr. J. T. F. Mitchell, ' president, thought -that the matter should be left to the sub-committee as suggested in the motion, and this was unanimously agreed to, the committee to report to the next meeting of the council.