Live Stock Embargo

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 11

Live Stock Embargo

Sir, —It is with growing apprehension that many people regard the retention of the live stock embargo. I think the stud-breeders of New Zealand are unanimous in declaring this embargo not only unnecessary but harmful, and a tremendous barrier to progress in stock improvement. But it is retained at the request of some farmers, who are too disinterested and indifferent to study, or even read intelligently, the facte put before them. Yet they attend meetings, are harangued by a few terrorists and, without thinking for themselves, vote as they are told. In the last two years New Zealand haw been visited by prominent breeders from other countries and they, of one accord, have said that never have they seen a country in such dire need of imported blood ns this rich young country of ours. One hae only to visit Australia and attend an agricultural show to realise thn truth of this. In Sydney in the cattle classes, prizewinners were either imported or by imported stock. Argentina and Australia are our great rivals in meat exports, not because they have better pastures, but simply because they are far ahead of us in quality and type. New Zealand has the pastures to develop wonderful carcases, but the quality is lacking in our stock. There is no reason why New Zealand should not become the stud farm of the Pacific; will our ridh pastures and climate we can grow far better stock than any otSer country, with the exception, perhaps, of Britain. We have an excellent export trade in horses, Corriedale, Romney and Southdown sheep, because these breeds are better here than in other countries in the Pacific. Wo can do this with other New Zealand-bred stock providing we improve the standard by importation. . , There is no chance at all of bringing foot and mouth disease Into this country with an imported beast. If the germ is in the vicinity the animal will contract the disease in from two to four days and could be destroyed immediately. Why is the disease not stamped out in England? This is the oft-repeated question. It has been stamped out hundreds of times, but England imports such a variety of goods from the Continent that outbreaks are traced in every case to these sources. If we are to get foot and mouth disease in New Zealand, wo will get it from imports of goods, fate, oils, foodstuffs, etc., but. not from imported animals. True, the "back-door” method of importation (i.e., three months’ quarantine in Tasmania plus the quarantine in England and New Zealand) is possible, but this is so costly and risky that breeders are unable to attempt it. The stud breeder in Australia is granted assistance by the Commonwealth Government, which pays most of the freight on imported animals. Lastly, the embargo is causing much illfeeling and discontent in Britain, which is only to be expected. How can we expect Britain to foster our meat trade when we are importing our stud cattle from America, which country takes none, or practically none, of our meat in return. The embargo question directly affects (*very farmer in New Zealand and it should bo his aim to improve in every possible way the quality of the meat he sends off .his farm.- —I am, etc., CONCERNED. Wanganui, May 16.