STOCK EMBARGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1937, Page 15

STOCK EMBARGO

QUALITY OF PRODUCE

Condemning the embargo on British stud stock, Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) strongly urged the Government to take immediate steps to improve the quality of the Dominion's beef herds and mutton flocks. This, he said, was necessary if New Zealand did not wish to lose her markets to the Argentine and Australia. These countries were already producing and marketing superior beef to the New Zealand product and by the improvement made in their stud flocks had become serious rivals for New Zealand's mutton and lamb market.

The Argentine had placed itself ahead of New Zealand as a beefproducing country by importing stud bulls from Scotland, while this Dominion still struggled on under the handicap of" the : embargo. It was time the Government listened to the advice of the experts and removed the embargo, The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash): Should we listen to the Fanners' Union?

Mr. Kyle: The Farmers' Union is not always right. Are you going to comply with Britain's request that you should lift the embargo?

BRITISH QUARANTINE.

Detailing precautions taken by Britain to guard against ihe export of infected stock, Mt. Kyle said that a quarantine station had been set up for the , detention of all animals for a period of fourteen days before shipment. The period of germination of foot-and-mouth disease was from two to four days, yet to make absolutely certain that there was no chance of an infected animal leaving the country, the British authorities insisted on the fourteen days in quarantine. No animal from an area known to have been infected by the disease was permitted to go even as far as the quarantine station, and this was another indication of the care taken by the British authorities in the export of stock. Mr. Broadfoot: How does the stock get here now? , Mr. Kyle: It is brought in through the back door. 'It comes here.by way of Australia. As a result an added burden of finance is placed on the farmer. M ■ . , Mr. Kyle added that Australia had commenced importing Southdown stud sheep from Britain and in a short time would be a serious competitor for New Zealand's fat lamb trade. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage): Can you convince your own partyr that you are right? Mr. Kyle: I think I have convinced it In any case, I cannot lift the embargo. That is the Minister's job. Adding that the Veterihary Association of New Zealand had advocated the lifting of the embargo for several years, Mr. Kyle said the Government should listen to sound advice and lose no time in taking a step that was vital to New Zealand's interests. The Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb): Why didn't your Government lift the embargo? ' Mr. Kyle: That is an old argument with this Government. Because a past Government foolishly placed an embargo on British stock is no reason why the present Government should be just as foolish by maintaining it.