Farmers Do Not Want Any Imported Stock

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 September 1932, Page 3

Farmers Do Not Want Any Imported Stock

TEAR OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE Farmers in New Zealand, realising the danger of the dreaded foot and mouth disease, do not desire the lifting of the embargo on imported stock. At Saturday’s meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the New . Zealand Farmers’ Un'ion in Palmerston North strong exception was taken to the policy of those officials of the Department of Agriculture who advocated the removal of the restrictions, and it was decided that “interested individuals’ and Agricultural Department officers’ pronouncements on the question of the lifting of the embargo be disagreed with, and that the Dominion executive be urged to exercise every effort to prevent the restrictions from being removed.” The chairman (Mr. A. J. McLcavey) introduced the matter by stating that a veterinary surgeon in Palmerston North, who had had first-hand experience with the problems of foot and mouth disease in the Old Country, was present at the meeting to tell members something about the subject. “I feel that we should block any endeavour to ■ import cattle into New Zealand until we are at least guaranteed against any loss which might result,” he said. There had seemed to be a decided attempt to get fresh stock in ever since the British farmers toured New Zealand, remarked Mr. J. T. Kent,of Waikanae. If the matter were allowed to get out of control the farmer would stand a chance of being ruined. There was no need at present for fresh stock, as the Dominion had a butter-fat record equal to that of any other country ,in the world.

“The farmers hardly seem to know where they are regarding.this question Opinions are very divided,” added Mr. B. G. Gower, of Foxton. “It is a long-standing matter, and the time has now arrived to take the gloves off and hit out,” contended Mr. G. Jensen (Levin). “Some people have nothing at stake,, but farmers have to remember that they have everything to lose and nothing to gain. We must make strong representations to the responsible authorities against any lifting of the restrictions or leaving our ports open for stock. And we should also point out that they are responsible.” Mr. J. Boyce (Glen Oroua) felt that, it was hardly necessary to take the discussion any further, as practical farmers were definitely and unanimously against the lifting of the embargo. The chairman: It is up to us, I think, to make some recommendation. How are we to know that there are uot people outside the country who would like to sec the disease in the Dominion. It would remove New Zealand as an opposition on the market, and once it got in we rvould never get it out in a mild climate like this one. Ravages of the Disease At this stage. Mr. McLeavey introduced Mr. E. C Howard, veterinary surgeon, of Palmerston North, who proceeded to tell members about the ravages of the disease. The speaker said that he had first come in contact with foot and mouth disease at Edinburgh in 1906, and had subsequently seen it in Europe, an! especially in Belgium, where it was very bad. Unfortunately, science had not yet discovered anything about the habits of the germ and whether it was a periodically recurring one or not. Mr. Howard described . the symptoms, adding that they were now to be seen on the Continent, in the United States and in South Africa. The , quarantine methods at -Home were strict, and as .the period of infection was about five months, it was possible that cattle from England would be free by the time they were released in the Dominion. Questioned as to' where the,disease originated, the speaker stated that he did not know, and also that it was not known whether it had been air-borne

or had entered England from containing ated hides or in ordinary clothing. Mr. F. Bond (Kiwitea): We cannot be too severe in regard to this matter. Wc should be well satisfied with the stock we have, and I will move that a vote of censure be passed on departmental officials who have.been supporting the lifting of the embargo. Mr. Kent endorsed these remarks and seconded the motion, being supported by* the chairman, who suggested that the matter should be taken to headquarters. . . “Wc should line up and take this question before Parliament; it is a very, serious matter,” added Mr, Bond. Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion was carried unanimously.