STOCK EMBARGO

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 29

STOCK EMBARGO

LESSENING OF RESTRICTIONS OPPOSED [Per United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, November 26. Opposition to any lessening of the restrictions on the importation of stock from Great Britain and other countries affected with foot-and-mouth disease was’expressed by the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union at its meeting to-day. It was decided to supply the branches with more details of Mr Lloyd Hammond’s proposals for the direct importation and to reguest their opinion on the question. Mr E. K. Sim said that the Meat and Wool Committee recommended that the president (Mr A. R. Johnston) make a statement on Mr Hammond’s proposals for the replacement of the embargo with restricted importation providing for any stock shipped to New Zealand spending 12 months in a disease-free area before shipment. Mr Johnston said that the executive was not asked to consider the lifting of the embargo, but to consider proposals which in the opinion of some were more rigid than the existing restrictions, and would make the chances of foot-and-mouth disease entering the country slighter than ever. The question was simply whether farmers would favour the replacement of the existing conditions by the now proposals. The scheme would permit of the direct importation of stock from infected countries instead of by the present “ back door ” method through other countries. The question had a new and tremendous importance as the result of the present serious outbreak of the disease in England. Those who advocated Mr Hammonds proposals were aware of the danger of the disease and were as horrified as others at any possible introduction into New Zealand. They wore convinced, however, that the risk would be as slight as if not slighter than under the existing method.