STOCK WITH TB

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 15

STOCK WITH TB

Payment Held Adequate (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. The Government does not believe that an increase in the rate of compensation paid to farmers for the destruction of t rberculous cattle is justified. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) said this in Parliament this afternoon to a question by the new member for Buller (Mr W. E Rowling, Opposition). Mr Rowling asked whether, in view of the high percentage of positive reactors revealed in some parts of New Zealing by TB testing of dairy herds, the Government would increase the rate of compensation to a level which would adequately protect farmers and ensure that those affected would be able to buy replacement stock. “The present TB eradication scheme, including the rate of compensation, has the concurrence of the Dairy Board." said Mr Taiboys. “The area scheme of eradication has features which are designed to assist the farmer to cope with the problem of replacements. “He may elect to retain reactors to the end of the season of the initial test or the following season, depending on whether the farm is in a declared area for compulsory testing or in a preparatory area. The tentative timetable for compulsory testing has been circulated to all farmers to enable them to plan their replacement programme in advance. "Furthermore. arrangements are being completed whereby the Dairy Production and Marketing Board may give assistance if. as a result, of testing, a farmer suffers a severe financial loss.”

To a supplementary question, Mr Taiboys said that, according to his information, a farmer would not really lose if he fully exercised the rights he had under the scheme.