CATTLE TICK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13126, 24 March 1937, Page 2

CATTLE TICK

NEED FOR COAST DIP

STOCK; INSPECTOR’S VIEWS The Tolaga Bay branch of the Farmers’ Union has., lately urged the view that Hip cattle tick at Tolaga Bay is no longer necessary, and that the regulations requiring cattle coming down the! coast are burdensome, and should be removed. Alternatively,' the branch .submitted that if the regulations were still -necessary, . a stock inpcctor should-.reside- at Tolaga Bay, to facilitate-..their enforcement.

The Poverty Bay executive, at last week’s meeting, considered tho statement of Mr A- Donald, of Tolaga Bay. The chairman, Mr J. E. Benson, pointed out that- there was clean country to the south of Gisborne, and the Union owed a duty to all its members. The executive decided to invito - representatives of tho Agricultural Department to confer with, members- on- the cattle tick position. "'■

Accepting tho invitation, Messrs* F. R. Bould aiicl T. French, stock inspectors, discussed the- , matter with Mr Benson and Messrs. W. T. Vo itch, and H. R. Shank:. That tho tick has increased on tho Coast, partJoulary the top end, but that the Gisborne area has remained clean, was the considered opinion of the inspectors, 'who held that there should be a continuance of dipping at Tolaga Bay, to keep Gisborne clean.

CLEAN GISBORNE COUNTRY . The inspectors stated that it was necessary that all cattle coming to G isboru , from the Coast should he dipped, except for fats: going to the freezing works at certain times of the ycai. if Die regulations had been flouted, as suggested at the last meeting of the union, that had been done hv some individuals who should bo pro'ccuted. -For those cattle bring sent from the back country of the Coast, a private dip at Arakihf could be made use of so as to avoid mobs going out of their way to go through the pubic dip at Tolaga Bay. partmont’s inspectors had dipped Mr Bould mentioned that the dlithe animals in Sole Bros. Circus, coining down the Coast. Even the elephants had not escaped.

DAAIAGE DONE BY TICK

Mr Shanks: Do cattle ticks do any real damage? Mr Bould: They damage all the lighter portions of the hides.

Mr Veitcli: That is the cheapest part of the hides. Air Bould: They will keep the condition down where the cattle are very thin. If that dip was done away with, in two years cattle from the northern area would be carrying ticks down here by the hundreds, and spraying would! not bo -sufficient for l'at stock shipped away from here. If the dip was moved to Moil aka, Gisborne would be an infested, area, and bullocks going away from here Would have to be dipped, not sprayed. In. reply to a. question from Air Benson as to what would be done with regard to ticks on hobby calves from Opotiki, Air Bould said that on the (arrival of the first load last year, lie reported tlie matter immediately to Wellington, and had the moving of calves from Opotiki stopped. Air Bould said that since it had been decided not to station an officer at Tolaga Bay, which area was now worked by an additional inspector in Gisborne, the activities of the Live Stock Division had been more efficient!y conducted. On the suggestion of Air Benson. Messrs Bould and F'rench agreed to accompany the union president to Tolaga. Bay in order to address a public meeting of farmers •on the subject,- and to give the explanation which had just been outlined by the inspectors.