CAUTION NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 22

CAUTION NEEDED

STUD STOCK FROM HOME

FOOT-AND-MOUTH: DISEASE

'-■ Arguments in support of the Board ,of. Agriculture's request for tho removal of the embargo upon the importation .'of live stock from Home wero given'to ■ the. Dominion Executive of the New tZoaland -Farmers'-.Union yesterday afternoon by Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture., After discussion on tho possibility of foot-and-mouth disease being introduced into tho Dominion, it was decided to defer on the matter until tho conference of the union. - . Dr. Reakes said'that up to the time the British Government established a quarantine station in London he had thought it was safer not to lift the embargo. The station had now been in operation for two years with exeellont results. It was run on very safe lines, and farmers could rest assured that no infected animal "was exported. It was proposed, if the embargo were lifted, to bring out a trial shipment entirely controlled by the New Zealand Government, and that tho fodder and bedding should be sent Home from New Zealand. A veterinary surgeon would travel out with tho shipment. The president (Mr. W. J. Poison, ""M.P.) considered it would be very much better for tho Government to wait until Dr. ReakesVstatements had been'considered by tho conference.. If a decision- were- required, immediately it could only be a hostile one. The question was asked whether tho members of the union were qualified to decide the matter, and it was suggested that the Government might bring out a trial shipment and leave the animals on some; island for a period of, say, six months. That would obviate all risk. ' "If the disease got in here it-would sweep through the country like a fire," remarked Mr. Poison. "It would ruin the country, and all the pious wishes of the Department of Agriculture could not stop' it. ■ If the Government decides in the meantime over our heads to remove the embargo the responsibility will not bo ours. I don't think the Government would dare remove it without the approval of this union. .There is no possibility of rescinding our decision at this meeting. The only thing for the Government to do is to go over our heads or to wait until our conference." . Mr. H. Stuckcy (Hawkos Bay) sounded a warning against a deterioration in the stud stock. Unless the quality was maintained New. Zealand \voiild lose her. reputation as a meatproducing country. Deterioration had already set in. in the Southdown breed. Ho -suggested that. in view of Dr. Reakes's assurance the re-importation of stock from Home should be seriously considered. ■ ■ : : ::'The matter was deferred for ;cqneideration at tho conference. The- secretary, was instructed _to write to the Prime Minister stating that the union was definitely opposed at present to the removal- of the embargo-, and asking that opportunity be given the- union to express its views fully in the event of tho Government deciding to lift tho embargo in the meantime. ■ ___...