STOCK FROM HOME

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1935, Page 8

STOCK FROM HOME

THE I>ANGEE OF DISEASE

WELLINGTON, February 6

“As a farmer and breeder of pedi-gree-stock of 41 years’ experience in England, 1 sav that I have never seen foot-and-mouth disease in that country,” said Air Percy E. Bradstook, of Tarrington, Hereford, when referring to-day to the embargo against the importation of livestock from Great Britain. Mr Bradstook and his son have spent six weeks in New Zealand and are making themselves acquainted with farming methods in the Dominion'. They left for Sydney to,-clay and intend to stay a month in AusJivitpa before returning to England. In an interview, Air Brail stock referred to a statement by Mr T. L. Lancaster, of the Auckland University College botany department, urging the retention of the pre.sent embargo. “I was interested to read on my return to Wellington, after travelling by car through. New Zealand studying farming methods, and beef cattle in particular, the remarks made by Mr Lancaster in connection with the dangers of foot-apd-Mouth disease,” said jir Bradstook. ‘T can assure Mr Lancaster that, with the precautions taken by the English Government and tlje use of the quarantine station that stock go into before leaving that country and the long sea voyage out here, the dapger of bringing foot-•and-mouth disea>C into this country through the importation of pedigree cattle from England is practically impossible. ■

“Mr Doncaster says: ‘We have the" finest stock in the world.’ Tf that is so, how is it that so many of the progressive : and -best stock breeders in this country are, and have been, importing pedigree stock from America and also in a few cases from England, the latter under very trying and expensive conditions, through Australia to improve their beef breeds ? They know full well that if they want to get their share of the London market, the beef breeds in this country must be improved. “1 have talked with a large number of fanners and breeders of stock in both the North and South Islands and have never mentioned the subject of the embargo myself, but have always herird the same tale, that they wished they could get fresh blood from the Old Country.”

“South America,” said Mr Bradstook, “ha s for years taken the best, that money can, buy from the Old Country, and -Australia i. n the last three'.years hhs imported, : a considerable number of cattle from England. Why? To' improve and maintain their beef breeds. “I should like to ask Air Lancaster if he can tell me any country in the world that has ever at 'any time imported foot-and-mouth diseas© from England. New Zealand is a wonderful country for. the breeding and feeding of beef cattle, but when Air Lancaster

says ‘that nil that is required is breed, ing along the right lines,’ I must reply that fresh blood must be imported.”