MENACE TO STOCK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9771, 31 July 1924, Page 2

MENACE TO STOCK

SPREAD OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

EVERY PRECAUTION URGED.

The spread of foot and; mouth disease in other countries is causing some alarm in the Dominion. The Farmers 1 ’ Union lie re, alive to the possibility of the introduction of the disease to New Zealand, wrote to the Government Inspector of Stock (Mr. D. Ross), and. have received the following reply from him: “Regulations under the Stock Act, 1908, as to the burning of lmy, straw and chaff packing, have, recently been Gazetted and as they are little understood by those most intimately concerned, importers and farmers, some brief reference to them may bo of interest. So far as the large importing firms are concerned, those that arc also stock and station agents place no difficulty in the way of cooperative effort with the Department of Agriculture, hut some few, not directly interested in the welfare of our herds, demur at the enforcement cf these'regulations designed to prevent the introduction of the deadly foot-and-mouth disease, winch if it once reaches our shores will remain hero for ever, because, although various typos of life have disappeared from off the face of the earth, there is no record of the extermination of anfy family of specific germs. ... “Briefly, where any hay, straw, or chaff accompany goods as packing from the. countries named in the regulations, three days are allowed from the commencement of unpacking, in which to thoroughly destroy such material by burning. “The destruction, however, shall not be necessary if the goods imported in the packing are accompanied by a sworn certificate or statutory declaration, countersigned by an officer approved by the High Commissioner, to the effect that packing, as described. lias been disinfected' prior to use, by such means as those deemed ado-, qua to iu the regulations. “It is advisable, therefore, that importers should arrange for the. issue of such certificates to cover their goods, both for their own convenience and for the safety of the Dominion’s herds. No imported packing from, the countries named in the regular, tions shall he used for re-packing tin- ’ less accompanied l>y Hie sworn cert-ifi- . cate, hut with a view to ensuring the. destruction by burning of hay. straw, or chaff packing contained in lines of; imported goods, and distributed with- 1 out unpacking, and so as to occasion as little inconvenience and expense in compliance with the regulations as, possible a notice has been prepared and printed which it is proposed should be pasted on to all such pack- i ages sent out by merchant importers, and a simply of those will be distributed on application to the local office of die Department of Agriculture, j Further, it has been •decided that straw envelopes used for packing by wine and spirit merchants may be allowed to go out provided notices. similar to those supplied are attached, ; otherwise they must be treated as i straw packing and immediately de- j stroved. “The red letter label printed for! the purpose reads as follows: ] ‘Prevention of introduction of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. —The hay, ■ straw, or chaff packing contained in this case must' be destroyed by , burning within three days of the 1 commencement of unpacking as re- j <iuired by Government regulations, j

‘‘Opportunity is taken to impress on the whole community the necessity of assisting in the special precautions that are being taken. Farmers especially are asked to bo vigilant in observing that the regulations are complied with in regard to any packing they receive and any laxity on the part of the .importing and distributing firms should be regarded as extremely perilous to their interests. f a i r warning is given that on any" breach of the regulations being proved the highest penalty allowed will he asked for by the prosecuting officer.”