FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 226, 22 August 1928, Page 6

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

In connection with the discussion on foot and mouth disease infection at the meeting of the general committee of the Manawatu A. and P. Association yesterday, Mr J. A Mitchell states that ho was incorrectly reported. Air Mitchell points out that when the Hawke’s Bay Society’s resolution requesting support for the prohibition of importation of live stock oi suo stances liable to carry foot and mouth disease was being discussed, lie stiessed the need to take the utmost precautions to prevent the introduction of the disease into New Zealand, pointing out the possibility of its entiy by imported stock. It was in leply to a query by tho chairman as to whether stock were being imported that Mr -Mitchell stated that there were a number of head on Somes Island. It was not stated or inferred that these were suffering from the dread disease, but simply that several head of cattle were at present on Somes Island. The sen “ tence in our report inferring that some of the stock were suffering from this disease ivas, therefore, not correct. A telegram from AVellington states that there are seme cattle from the United States in quarantine on Somes Island at present, but all are in perfect health. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Coy., Ltd., take strong exception to the statement issued from Palmerston North that foot and mouth disease is prevalent in cattle on Somes Island in Wellington harbour. They state that it is entirely a mistake and there is no disease there at all. They and other firms have been importing cattle from North America for years and the particular shipment at present on Somes Island is merely undergoing the usual quarantine previous to landing.