STOCK EMBARGO

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21034, 9 December 1933, Page 10

STOCK EMBARGO

A CONTINUANCE URGED

To lift the embargo in New Zealand on the importation of stud stock would be "absolutely insane," said. Mr H. M. Campbell, M.P. for Hawke's Bay and a pastoralist in a big way. He quoted to a newspaper representative a cutting from an English paper of September 15—the "Western Gazette"—an item as follows: "The recent fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease give rise to a suspicion that in some way conditions are at the present time favourable for the spread of the virus. It is advisable to advise stock owners that continual vigilance is necessary to notice the first signs of the disease and give immediate intimation of its suspected presence. It is equally important that .the preventive measures contained in the statutory orders of the Ministry of Agriculture are observed. The need for special attention at the present time to all these very necessary precautionary measures is emphasised by information of the serious spread of the disease in France during recent months, where in some areas it appears to be rampant." Possibility of Carriers. "In view of the trouble they are having in England with this disease," Mr Campbell commented, "in my opinion we would be absolutely insane to lift the embargo to permit entry into New Zealand of stock which might be infected by this disease, or which might, without actual visible infection, be carriers of it. As little is known about the actual germs, the chances for carriers would be considerable. Further, if the disease crept into New Zealand, and got among the deer, wild goats, and wild pigs, in the back country, it would be almost impossible to stamp it out. Certainly it is not worth the " With regard to the arguments of those who suggested that New Zealand farms required new blood, it always appeared to him that, as England had remained the stud farm of the world for a good many hundred years without ever importing other blood, they were utterly wrong, he continued. If England could go for hundreds of years without fresb importations, surely there were men in New Zealand who were capable of carrying on and breeding good stock without importations for a few years longer, thus helping to avert what might be a great disaster to the whole of the country's flocks and herds.

FURTHER OUTBREAKS

"The Scottish Farmer" of October 28 furnishes details of a number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England with in a few days preceding that date: — "Foot-and-mouth disease was conj firmed on Saturday last among cattle I in the parish of Saltfleetby, St. Peter, near Louth, Lincolnshire, and an order was issued prohibiting the movement, except by license, of all cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and deer within approximately 15 miles of the infected premises. The existence of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on Monday among cattle, sheep and pigs on premises in the parish of Backwell, Somerset', six miles south of Bristol. A further outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Carlton, near Louth, one of the most important stock-raising districts in Lincolnshire, was confirmed on Monday. The first outbreak was discovered on Saturday at Saltilcetby, within a mile of the present outbreak, and 30 animals were destroyed. About 20 cattle affected in the present outbreak have been destroyed. Louth, Alford, and Suilsby markets have been closed. An outbreak was notified near Cambridge, and a standstill order has been issued in respect of the area with two miles of a farm at Watereach, Cambridgeshire. The stock of the farm, consisting of 42 head of cattle and 25 pigs, has been destroyed. Three more outbreaks were reported in Somerset on Tuesday among cattle near the scene of the earlier outbreak; and 69 cattle, three calves, 47 sheep and lambs, 22 pigs, a ferret, a dog, and two cats will be destroyed. Bristol cattle market: has been closed, and the landing of 4 Irish cattle at Bristol has been forbidden. There were two fresh outbreaks on Wednesday." '»The North British Agriculturist" of October 26 has the following reference to the Somerset outbreak ;—"Unemployed men were digging trenches on Tuesday, and special county police have been drafted to farms to guard the roads and footpaths. Five tons of coal and lorry loads of faggots were delivered yesterday and some of the carcases were burnt.