ILL-THRIFT DISEASE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 8

ILL-THRIFT DISEASE

Prompt Action Expected Members of the deputation that met the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) on Friday to urge steps to combat the illthrift disease in Canterbury believe that some immediate action will be taken in the form of a survey of the areas most seriously affected, followed possibly by further diagnoses and more intensive research, the chairman of the Ashburton Veterinary Club (Mr P. S. Eonifant) said on his return to Ashburton on Saturday. Mr feonifant, with Messrs M. S. Turton, another member of the Ashburton Veterinary Club; G. Scarth, chairman of the meat and wool section of Mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers; A. McDonald, representing the North Canterbury Veterinary Club; G. Henderison, representing the Malvern Veterinary Club; and Dr. J. W. McLean, an instructor in veterinary science at the Canterbury Agricultural College. Lincoln, met Mr Holyoake in Wellington to make representations for intensive research to be carried out in Canterbury into the ill-thrift disease, which has been responsible for losses of several thousand hoggets, especially in . the Mid-Can-terbury and Darfield areas, in the last two months. Members of the deputation were introduced to Mr Holyoake by the chairman of the Veterinary Services’ Council (Mr A. Linton), associated with Mr R. G. Gerard, member of Parliament for Ashburton, officers of the Wallaceville Research Station. Wellington, and the New Zealand Wool Board. “The deputation impressed on the Minister the seriousness of the position in Canterbury, and received a sympathetic hearing,' said Mr Bonifant. “The Minister was unaware of the seriousness of the position as reports received by his department had not in any way revealed the extent of illthrift in hoggets in Canterbury.