Page 18 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 18

H. MATSON AND CO. hey: what do experts know ABOUT IT? ONCE AGAIN FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. Ext. from "Live Stock Journal," dated 26th May, 1933. ''PHE existence of foot and mouth disease was confirmed on Wednesday among cattle on premises in the parish of Stanton Fitzwarren, near Swindon, Wiltshire. "The area subject to restrictions of movement of stock lies in the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. This latest outbreak has happened at a most awkward period." Extra from "Meat and Wool." FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. June is always the farmers' conference month, with producers' organisations of every kind holding their annual meetings. One subject which made its appearance at every conference was foot and mouth disease and the position of New Zealand in regard to the importation of blood stock from England. Discussjon on the subject was preceded by a reference by his Excellency the Governor-General in the early part of the month, when he expressed the hope that New Zealand's stock owners should change their attitude in regard to the embargo in view of the efficiency of the London Quarantine Station and the need for fresh blood. The Auckland A. and P. Association discussed the subject and passed the following motion:—"That delegates to the Royal Society's annual meeting should be instructed to move an amendment if necessary to the Marlborough remit that the Government regulations should not be interfered with." The Marlborough remit was:—"That no importation of stock to New Zealand should be allowed from any country where foot-and-mouth disease has been known to exist during a period of two years preceding the date of such proposed importation." This remit was negatived at the annual meeting of the Royal Society, which has never been so pronounced an advocate of strict measures as are other farming bodies, such as the New Zealand Sheep Owners' Federation and the Farmers' Union. At the meeting in Auckland. Mr S. Irwin Crookes spoke as follows:

"I feel very strongly about this. I have studied the/ quarantine arrangements in England, but if this country ■were once inflicted with foot-and-mouth disease we would never stamp it out. Conditions in England, and the general contour of the country, are such that much better control can be kept of the disease. You can imagine what would happen if the disease got into the back country of New Zealand among the wild deer and pigs. With all due respect to the Governor-General. and I am not speaking personally of any GovernorGeneral, I do not think that a Gover-nor-General is the proper person to address such an organisation as this on a matter which is controversial. It would be bad form, and perhaps impertinent, to get up and argue with him, though we may not agree with him."

! H. Matson and Co. have no axe I to grind, and the on]y thing they j have at heart is the welfare of I New Zealand. Regarding the importation of fresh blood, the following statements speak for themselves: — Mr G. F. Moore, of Bushy Park, a well-known Hereford breeder, says in the New Zealand "Farmer" dated July Ist that he can state most definitely "That although we have never used an imported bull in this herd since 1923, the cattle have improved greatly in quality and type, and their constitution certainly has not suffered in any way. Moreover, during that time we have never used a sire bred outside of this herd. English stud stock breeders practically never import from other countries, yet Britain maintains her position as the producer of the best stud stock in the world. And provided that in each breed we have a sufficient number of different families or strains of blood, and if we make judicious use of them, there is no reason why we should not do the came. "The trouble in this country in my ©pinion is not that we have insufficient change of blood, but that in cases ■where stock deteriorate, breeders have failed to make the best use of what is available. There is too much of a tendency to use a cheap sire, and as long as that attitude exists in any country, it can never take a preeminent place in the stud stock world. Even if the embargo were lifted, I doubt very much whether many breeders in New Zealand could afford to import stock at the present time. Apart from the purchase price of an animal, shipping, quarantine, and other charges are far too high. Therefore, I say let us make the best use of the good stock •we now have, and if we do this there •will be no need to worry about deterioration." EMBARGO SUPPORTED. FRIESIAN ASSOCIATIONS DECISION. The annual meeting of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Friesian Association on Wednesday resolved, on the motion of the chairman (Mr J. I. Royds), seconded by Mr L. H. Leslie, that in view of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth and other serious diseases overseas, and considering the present position here, viz.:— (a) That New Zealand is comparatively free of serious stock diseases; That New Zealand has a growing trade in the export of live stock which would be seriously prejudiced by any outbreak of disease; <c) That New Zealand »tud Friestans compare favourably in type and production with those in any part of the world, and provide ample change of blood for any breeder desiring it, the members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Friesian Association record their emphatic protest against any relaxation of the conditions governing the admission of live stock to the Dominion. It was decided that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Agriculture and to the head •flic*. - H- MATSON and CO.