Australian Graziers Rush To Beat Sheep Import Ban

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28551, 2 April 1958, Page 14

Australian Graziers Rush To Beat Sheep Import Ban

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 1. Australian graziers are reported to be rushing imports of New Zealand sheep into Australia to beat the Federal ban on imports of cattle and sheep from any country after May 31. The latest issue of the “New Zealand Meat Producer” says representations from New Zealand have so far not been successful in changing the voting of the Australian veterinary authorities who are determined to enforce the general ban to make absolutely sure that blue tongue disease, which exists in certain parts of the United States, does not get into Australia’s sheep flocks. The “New Zealand Meat Producer” says New Zealand's exports of stud sheep to Australia in 1957 totalled 5134 valued at £126.400. The journal says the law will eliminate this trade and. so far as it affects New Zealand, is highly unreasonable as New Zealand has never had blue tongue disease. The journal says it is believed the New Zealand Government

will now protest to the Australian Government. Mr J. E. Mcllwaine, Director of the Animal Industry Division of the Department of Agriculture, who flew to Canberra last month to make representations, found the Australian quarantine authorities determined to go ahead with the ban. Mr Mcllwaine on his return told the "New Zealand Meat Producer” that the Australian authorities were adamant they must take every possible precaution against the introduction of blue tongue. “Although we have had no blue tongue whatever in New Zealand, they say the ban must extend to us because we import cattle from America and the United Kingdom,” he said. “The disease is not in the United Kingdom but it has occurred in Spain and Portugal, and apparently they fear that it could spread to France and to the United Kingdom very quickly.”