Complaints on sheep ‘justified’

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33413, 20 December 1973, Page 2

Complaints on sheep ‘justified’

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 19,

There was no doubt that various acts and omissions provided justification for complaints from members of the Waterside Workers’ Union during the loading of sheep for Iran at Napier, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Moyle) said today.

But there was no clear indication of any deliberate acts of cruelty or breaches of the Animals Protection Act, Mr Moyle said in a statement released after a special investigation into the loading of cull ewes at Napier.

Mr Moyle expressed sympathy with the watersiders’ concern, and said that measures to be implemented by staff of the Ministry of Agriculture would overcome any problems that could arise with other shipments of large numbers of livestock in a trade that was important to New Zealand, and which should be continued.

“The shipment consisted of 28,00? aged ewes drawn from many sources, and it was probably inevitable that some of the animals should succumb from various causes at the time of transportation and loading,” said Mr Moyle. “Although the number was small when compared with the total shipment, the carcases of these animals and those slaughtered for the consumption of the crew did present an offensive sight to the people forced to work in I their vicinity. “It is unfortunate, but again not entirely unexpected with such a large shipment, that a number of lambs should have been bom during the actual transportation and loading operations and have added to the impression that humane interests were being ignored. “Since the shipment was based on dry sheep, the birth of lambs naturally upset some of the workers, but this again must be kept in perspective.

“Any lambs bom at the time of shipment were conceived in early June, and this is most unusual in the North Island, where lambing normally begins early in August

and is usually over by the end of September or early October,” said Mr Moyle. “The shippers were instructed to separate the ewes with lambs at foot, and this was in fact done. An inspection of the sheep at Timaru showed them to be doing well. “The number of ewes that lambed represented a very small percentage of the total involved.”

Mr Moyle said the ships’ officers permitted loading of meat into the ship’s stores for human consumption while sheep loading was proceeding, and this was certainly inconsistent with the principles of good hygiene. It would not be tolerated in a New Zealand ship, and could have been expected to cause adverse comment.

Many of the ewes were temporarily partially blind from the effects of pink eye infection, a common complaint when large numbers of sheep are held in close confinement.

The appearance of inflamed eye tissues was probably mistaken for damage caused by foreign objects, Mr Moyle said. Prods of various kinds were used to keep the sheep moving up the loading ramps, but there was no evidence that they were used with unnecessary force or that sheeps’ eyes were deliberately damaged. “There was also a problem of communication between the ship’s crew and watersiders because of the language barrier,” said Mr Moyle. “This obviously led to misunderstandings, and I have asked the Ministry to discuss this with the shipping agents and the union, to see that there is a clear and satisfactory demarcation between the responsibilities of the waterside workers and the ship’s crew with future shipments.

“Although the veterinarians of the Ministry were on duty throughout the loading, it is obvious now that in future it will be necessary to have more officers present at all

points of loading as well as in the vessel. “These officers must wear distinguishing badges, so that if anybody sees anything which offends them, they will have the opportunity to report it for immediate investigation and action. “I am satisfied that many

of the waterside workers were unaware that the loading was being supervised by officers of the Ministry,” said Mr Moyle. “The various aspects they complained of would quite probably have been referred to these officers for investigation or explanation at the time, had they been recognised.

“As this trade is important to New Zealand and should be continued, I feel confident that the measures which my officers intend to implement will overcome any problems which could arise with the movement of large numbers of livestock which is on the increase throughout the world to try to satisfy the everincreasing demand for animal protein.”