Live Stock Embargo

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 11

Live Stock Embargo

Sir,—! notice in your issue of June 26 tuat at the Annual Conference of the Veterinary Association of New Zealand Mr. W. l-ierson stated that "Lord Bledislue as a director of shipping companies aud as a stockbreeder was serving his own interests” in advocating the removal of the embargo on the importation of pedigree livestock into New Zealand from Great Britain. Such an idea had never occurred to me until 1 had read this gentleman s impressions of my motives in expressing my views on this subject, While 1 was Governor-General of the Dominion. 1 am, it is true, a stockbreeder, and it is as such that 1 have felt some concern for the future welfare of uiy fellowstockbreeders in New Zealand and of your all-important pastoral industry, if without logical justification advantages of stock improvement are denied to them which are available to all their world competitors. As to my connection with shipping 1 never had been, and never contemplated being u director of a British shipping company. Until after my return to England 16 months ago, then the Board of the 1< and O. Company invited me to join them, partly on the strength of my acquaintance with the shipping requirements of primary exporters at the Antipodes and partly because I had publicly expressed grave concern as to the probable effect'upon the defences of the Dominion of the elimination by subsidised foreign competition of the British Mercantile Marine in th'e Pacific Ocean; My acceptance of the invitation was based upon my keen desire to retain some link with the future fortunes of a country for which, after five years’ residence therein. I entertain the deepest affection. Allow me only to add that, although 1 have never found it possible to share the view of Mr. Pierson' regarding the transmissibility of disease in any live animals from the United Kingdom to New Zealand —contrary to the opinion of the leading veterinarians of the world —I have never questioned the perfect sincerity of his views or his disinterestedness in expressing them. — I am. etc., _ BLEDISLOE. Lydney Park, England, August 14.