The New Smugglers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30827, 12 August 1965, Page 12

The New Smugglers

The latest form of smuggling in New Zealand does not enrich the smuggler or deprive the State of revenue, but it could prove more costly to the community than the evasion of duty on a whole shipload of contraband. The new smuggler is the illegal importer of plants or foodstuffs. In all other respects he may be an exemplary citizen—which often militates against his detection. He may be a keen gardener who cannot resist buying an exotic pot-plant a few days before his return to New Zealand by air. He may be a gourmet, who writes away for a small consignment of foreign fruit or meat. But when he attempts to evade the strict regulations governing the import of such goods into New Zealand he deserves no more sympathy than the criminal caught smuggling jewels.

New Zealand is remarkably free of the pests and diseases which plague farmers in most other countries. Geographical isolation formed a natural barrier against virus and insect infestation while New Zealand’s great primary industries were becoming established. International air travel has broken down the barrier; and the dangers of contagion from this source have multiplied in recent years. The introduction of a single new stock disease could cost the country millions of pounds a year in export income: The discovery of nodule worm in 32 Dorset Down ewes imported from Australia last year provides an illustration. This disease, if established in New Zealand, would seriously affect the sausage casings industry. “ As it had not been reported in this country “ previously ”, says the annual report of the Department of Agriculture, “ steps were taken to ensure *' that no further animals with this disease were im- ** ported ".

Foot-and-mouth disease is the dread of every stock breeder. If it became established in New Zea land, our meat carcases would be prohibited—as Argentine meat now is—from the North American market. This disease can be carried in dried meat, in soil (as on travellers’ footwear), and in vegetable matter. Hence the precautions such as fumigation of aircraft cabins, close inspection of passengers’ baggage, and confiscation of plants and foodstuffs brought back by travellers. Irritating though these measures are to the traveller, a moment’s reflection shows the need for them. Attempts to evade the restrictions on imports by p st are especially difficult to detect; and new controls—and more onerous penalties—may yet be required. The livestock superintendent for the Department of Agriculture at Hamilton has drawn attention to false declarations of the contents of parcels sent through the mail. One parcel was declared to contain clothing: it was found to contain a dried meat oreparation, a possible source of foot-and-mouth disease Anvone who would incur the risk of introducing this disease in the Waikato, with its dense livestock non n i a tion. for the sake of a gastronomic experiment shows the worst kind of irresponsibility.