HYDATIDS AMONG DOGS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22271, 9 December 1937, Page 10

HYDATIDS AMONG DOGS

Provision for Checking Disease LICENSING AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE REMEDIES (.From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 8. Provisions for checking the spread of hydatids among dogs are contained in the Dog Registration Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General’s Message to-night. Under the bill, local authorities which deal with the registration of dogs are charged with the duty of keeping supplies of the approved remedies prescribed for treating the disease in dogs caused by the parasite technically known as echinococcus granulosus. When dogs are registered, the owner is to be supplied with a sufficient quantity of some approved remedy to enable his dog to be treated up to January 1 of the following year. Printed instructions regarding the use of the remedy must also be supplied. Local authorities will be entitled to charge additional fees in respect of the supply of remedies, the amount of the fee to be prescribed by Order-in-Council. The fee will be regarded as an essential part of the registration fee. Approved remedies, and printed instruction for their use, will also be prescribed by Order-in-Council, and arrangements are to be made by the Minister for Internal Affairs to supply quantities of remedies to local authorities. When the bill was introduced, the Minister for Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) said the measure had been initiated by the Health Department but would be administered by the Internal Affairs Department. The necessity for some such action had recently been emphasised by leading medical authorities, and other prominent persons. The bill was read a first time.