PREVENTION OF PLEURO – PNEUMONIA. — PUBLIC MEETING AT REMUERA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3511, 16 October 1868, Page 4

PREVENTION OF PLEURO - PNEUMONIA. — PUBLIC MEETING AT REMUERA.

A public misting w»8 held yesterday at Mr. Buckland's yards, fiemuera, to consider by what means tha introduction of the disuse called pleuro-pneu-monia into the province of Auckland may be prevented. Amongst those present we noticed the following settler* :— Messrs. A. Buckland, James Farmer, M.tr. A.; Mangere— John Wallace, James Runciman, D. Robertson, F. Henwood, C. Shepherd ; Otahuhu-H. Kirk, S. C. Baird, R. Hall, W. Battle, —Steward ; Papatoetoe— John Wallace ; Panmure— T. Cawkwell; Tamaki East— C. P. Storey, C. Ewen, R. Taylor ; and also the following — W. T. Bassett, John Gordon (secretary to the New Zealand Agricultural Society), R. Baddeley, J. Vercoe, F. 0. Lewii (Inspector of Sheep and Slaughter-houses), Captain Hamilton, H. Vercoe, R, McGee, — Fookes, V.S. Mr. F. C. Lbwis moved that Mr. James Farmer, M.G.A. and M.P.C., do take the chair. Mr. W. T. Bassett seconded the motion. The Chairman said that meeting hmd been called for the purpose of considering the best and most effectual means of preventing the introduction of pleuropnaumonia into the proviuce of Auckland. He would read the advertisement convening the meeting. (The speaker then read the advertisement from the Daily Southern Cross.) He would call upon Mr. W. T. Bassett to more the first resolution. Mr. W. T. Bassbtt said the resolution he had to propose was as follows : "That it is the opinion of this meeting that immediate steps should be taken to prevent the re-introduction of pleuro-pneumonia into this province." He thought thpy would all agree with the matter affirmed in that resolution. It was high time that some immediate steps should be taken to prevent the re-introduction of that baneful disease known as pleuro-pneumonia, which he was happy to say had now ' almost died out of the colony — few instances of it being heard of. It would tie exceedingly dangerous and they'would be highly culpable if they, by any ap*thy in taking immediate steps, allowed the disease to be wilfully and knowingly re-introduced. (Hear, hear.] The price of cattle had been high in this province ol be very undesirable, having so far succeeded ia preventing the spread of the diseaie, if they allowed it to be re-introduced without exerting themselves to the utmost to avert such a calamity, 'lhey all of them, or nearly all of them, had suffered severe loss in times past from the introduction of the disease, (blear, hear.) It might certainly be urged by some people that in adopting then precautionary measures they were preventing the importation of necessary provisions, that they were endeavouring to prevent the importation of beef in order to raise the price oi provincial stock and so to immediately benefit themselves ; but he contended that those who took that view of the question took a most erroneous and mistaken one. (Hear, hear.) He was opposed to anything that savoured of the system of protection, and he believed that every man should have an equal chance with his neighbour, and that the consumer should have an equal chance with the producer. (Hear, hear.) He looked upon this matter not as a question of free trade or protection, but as a question of disease or health, in f*3fc as a sanitary question — (Hear, hear) — and therefore he thought we should be doing very wrong in admitting diseased cattle and sheep. (Hear, hear.) Moreover, if they took no steps to prevent such a thing they would be doing an injury not only to themselves »b settlers, but to the whole province. (Hear, hear.) Many of them would remember that when the disease prevailed here in times past it prevented the breeding of stock, and more especially the breeding of good stock, and many good dairies and good cows were sold at a sacrifice in cousequence of the danger of the disease. This was one reason why they should exert themselves to prevent the reintroduction of the diseased cattle. (Hear, hear.) If the publio would only regard the matter in a proper light, it would be rather glad than otherwise that exertions had been made to prevent the importation and sale of diseased meat. (Hear, hear.) He happened to know that it had been the case that many farmers had sold cattle whioh they knew to be diseased. When a farmer went into his field and saw a beast struck down by this disease, there was a great temptation ;to sell beast, either alive m in the form of meat, and thus prevent a loss of £10 or £15. This had been done, and always would continue so long as the disease were allowed to exist. That also was another cogent reason why they should endeavour to prevent the re-introduction of pleuro-pneumonia. Ihe people should not be supplied with bad meat if it could in any way be avoided. (Hear, hear, and applause.) There were several resolutions to be proposed, but he would content himself, in conclusion, by saying that he fully recognised the necessity pointed out in his resolution ; and he would urge them to take immediate steps in the matter. Mr. John Wallace (No. 2) seconded the notion, which was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Captain HAMILTON begged to propose the following resolution:— "That this nvetincr believes that nothing short of prohibiting the landing of live cattle on the mtin land, imported from any other plaoe where pleuro-/neuraonia is known to exist, will effect that object." After the remarks made by Mr. B*«sett in moving the first resolution, it was hardlynfcesiary for him (Captain Hamilton) to say an/thing further. He fully concurred in the remarks made by Mr. Bussetii as to the necessity oftakiog immediate steps to prevent the re-introduct#n of pleuro-pneumonia. (Aear, hear ) Mr. T. Henwood seceded the motion. The Chairman pui the motion to the meeting, and it was carried t-nanimously. Mr. James KttnGlMaw proposed, "That a deputation, consisting 't Uessrs. H. Vercoe, J Firmer, M.G. A., May. J&aird,and W. J. Taylor, be appointed t > lay before tf'e Provincial Government the views of this meeU'ig on the subject." He said he thought it was highly necessary that such a deputation should be uppointed to lay the matter before the Government. As they were all too «ell aware, many of them had suffered severe pecuniary loss by the introduction of the disease in time:> past— (hear, hear) — and no system of inspection whatever had proved a success. (Hear, hear.) They all knew that in times past cattle infected with tke disease had been brought from Australia and other places where pleuro-pneu-monia existed, and therefore it behoved them to ta*e effectual and immediate steps to prevent it reintro. auction. (Hear, hear.) It wa-j known already that cattle infected with the disease were expected from the Australian colonies, advices having been received to the effect that they were about to beputon board ship. Stockowners had already suffered sufficient loss, and should not therefore be again losers by the re-intro-duction of this baneful disease. (Hear, hear.) He therefore begged to move the resolution hs had just read. Mr. R. MoGse seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. F. C. Lbwis moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Mr. J. Gordon seconded tbe motion, which was carried by acclamation. The Chairman said he was phased at the honour they had conferred upon him in asking him to preside at that important meeting. Be fully recognised the necessity of the action they had taken, and he would be very glad to act as one of the committee appointed to bring the matter before the notice of , Provincial Government. j The meeting then separated. , '