PRECAUTIONS TAKEN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1938, Page 7

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN.

EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA GUARANTEED FREE.

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Tuesday, 11.35. p.m. ' CANBERRA, May 3.

The Acting Minister of Commerce, Mr, Cameron, told the House of Representatives to-day that the New Zealand Government had guaranteed that sheep exported from New Zealand would be free from eczema. Mr. Cameron assured members that every precaution was being taken here to prevent the introduction of the disease from New Zealand. SOUTH ISLAND ANXIOUS EMBARGO SOUGHT ON STOCK. DUNEDIN, Last Night. From inquiries made to-day at the local headquarters of the Farmers' Union it would appear that prominent farmers throughout Otago are not by any means satisfied with the Minister’s reassuring statement to the effect that the outbreak of facial eczema in stock in the North Island is neither contagious nor infectious. The Minister said that the occurrence of the disease in different areas in the North Island was merely due to the fact that the animals in those areas w r ere subject to similar dietetic condi tions and that those conditions did not exist in the youth Island.

“I have communicated with prominent farmers," Mr. A. C. Cameron (acting secretary) said, "and I find that they are unanimous that restrictions should be placed on all North Island stock coming to the South Island until the outbreak is under complete control. "Veterinary opinion may not deem this necessary, but it would do much to allay concern and the amount of hardship entailed upon a few farmers who would be bringing stock down to the South Island would be almost negligible."

INCIDENCE IN HAWKE’S BAY

HASTINGS, May 3,

Facial eczema is not becoming any more serious in Hawke’s Bay, according to Mr. Laing, the Government veterinarian at Hastings. In an interview Mr. Laing stated that after the recent heavy rains he had rather feared that a period of hot, sunny weather would result in an increase in the already large number of affected flocks. However, from reports he had received from farmers with whom he had already been in touch it was apparent that few cases had occurred.

He anticipated that, with the colder weather at present experienced, it would be possible that facial eczema would be still loss serious. Nearly all farmers had been careful to carry out the precautions suggested, and the success of the campaign so far could to a great extent be attributed to this.