Pitt Island Cattle Shot As Shipment Not Possible

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 1

Pitt Island Cattle Shot As Shipment Not Possible

(From Our Own Reporter) CHATHAM ISLANDS, March 29. Two thousand head of Aberdeen Angus cattle on Pitt Island have been shot and dumped into the sea during the last five years because there are no facilities available for their shipment to New Zealand markets. “This wasteful slaughter of good beef, when millions in the world are starving, is criminal, and I give my pledge that immediately the facilities we urgently require are available, the first shipment will be given to the Freedom-From-Hunger Campaign,” said Mr N. J. Moffett, whose company owns the property on which the cattle have been destroyed.

The cattle ran over a block of 10.000 acres, and were culled once a year, said Mr Moffett, the managing director of the C.J.M. Company, Ltd. “We drive them down on to a cliff-surrounded beach. After shooting them we take off a few choice cuts for our own needs. Some of the other meat is used for dog tucker, the hens get some, and the rest is left to be carried away by the tides.” he said. Mr Moffett said past approaches to th? Government and the Chatham Islands County Council for assistance in providing adequate yards and suitable boxes for the cattle on council-controlled land near the island's jetty

had produced nothing positive.

The reason for the destruction of hundreds of head of cattle each year was explained to Sir Leon Gotz (then Minister of Island Territories) when he visited the Chathams in 1962, but the Government had taken no action at all to overcome the difficulties, said Mr Moffett. Assurance Sought

Mr Moffett is so concerned about the position that he will fly to Wellington this week to approach the Government again for assistance.

“We are not asking for money. My company is willing to make that available,” he said. “All we want from the Government is an assurance that shipping would be readily available as soon as the necessary facilities are provided.

“However, nothing further can be done until the council either erects the cattle yards itself, or gives us permission to do the job for it. The council has adopted a very apathetic attitude over the whole business,” said Mr Moffett.

The cattle were originally introduced to the island to keep the land clear of bracken, he said. A number of valuable bulls had been bought in recent years to maintain good breeding, and the cattle that were now being shot could be sold at prices ranging upwards from £3O.

Mr Moffett said that under normal farming practice the annual draft of steer calves would make available about 400 for shipment. Three hundred and fifty were shot last year. "Ironical” “I hope the Government will accept my invitation to send a representative to the island to report on this unbelievable state of affairs. It is ironical that Mr Taiboys, the Minister of Agriculture, should be constantly appealing to farmers to increase production when we are forced to kill off some 400 beasts a year.

“Pitt Island has many thousands of acres of first-class cattle country, and once we can get access to New Zealand’s markets, we would not hesitate to allow our cattle numbers to increase,” said Mr Moffett.

The last cattle shipments from Pitt Island were made many years ago. Attached to surf boats, the cattle swam out to the ship’s anchorage, and were hoisted aboard one at a time with snotters. This method proved dangerous, slow, and cumbersome, and was often injurious to the cattle, with the result that the Holm Shipping Company eventually decided that only cattle in boxes would in future be handled. Questioned further about his pledge to give the first shipment to the Freedom-From-Hunger campaign, Mr Moffett said he was willing to give as many as the Holmburn could hold—“up to 400 if they can be accommodated.” Even if they only cleared a minimum of £l5 a head after meeting shipping and other charges (at present these amount to £l7 a head), the campaign could benefit handsomely, he said. Lack Of Finance The chairman of the county council’s finance committee (Mr A. Preece) said the council received a request from Pitt Island farmers about three years ago for cattlehandling facilities. Approval was given and even some of the timber required for the job was delivered, but the work was never carried out because of lack of finance. When sufficient money was available, the work would be done. Told that Mr Moffett’s company had said it was prepared to finance the project, Mr Preece said: “But that would not do, because the council owns the property. The pro-

ject will have tf> be met out of county finance." Mr Preece said the council was investigating the possibility of establishing a special sub-committee comprising three Pitt Island farmers. This, he said, would help solve present difficulties in trying to administer the island from Waitangi.