Government spending

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 14

Government spending

Sir, —Because of cuts in Government spending, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries field officers are being made redundant, yet how can the Ministry justify the spending of tens of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars annually, as it has done for the last 12 years, looking unsuccessfully for potato cyst nematode in Canterbury seed-growers’ crops when there is no evidence, never has been, and never will be, to scientifically substantiate that P.C.N. was ever there in the first place. Canterbury seed-potato growers are incensed at the apparent insensitivity of the Ministry’s P.C.N. committee which is annually destroying one per cent of a grower’s crop by forktesting. When will M.A.F. hierarchy remove the injustice which for 12 years has victimised four farmers on 1000 acres? The foot and mouth mistake at Warkworth was admitted and rectified, why not the P.C.N. mistake?—Yours, etc M. BAXTER. February 17, 1987. [The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, replies: “First, may I note that Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries field officers are not being made redundant: there will be a continuing need for the Ministry to employ appropriate field staff. Second, despite the refusal of your correspondent to recognise the detection of potato cyst nematode in the Canterbury seed-potato growing area, the Ministry is quite certain of its detection, and will continue to pursue the policy agreed with the potato industry. This includes a survey component for as long as it is required. Third, there was no mistake with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease at Warkworth. There was suspicion of an animal having foot and mouth disease and under the act pertaining to exotic diseases in animals, the Ministry is empowered to act on suspicion. Compensation was given for slaughtered animals.”]