FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 169, 19 June 1931, Page 5

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

PROPOSAL TO REMOVE EMBARGO ROMNEY BREEDERS PROTEST. An emphatic protest against the lifting of the embargo against the importation of stock from countries suffering from foot and mouth disease was forthcoming at the annual meeting of the Romney Marsh SJ[ieepbreeders’ Association yesterday afternoon. The president, Mr Q. Donald, referred to the matter in moving the annual report, stating that the proposal of the Board of Agriculture to lire the embargo had again brought the question to the fore. The council of the Romney Marsh Association Had carried a resolution against altering tlie regulations and iiad decided to again renew its protest on the announcement from the Board of Agriculture. Mr Donald’s personal opinion was that, in view of the special measures being taken to guard against the disease, there was no chance of it reaching New Zealand through the carefully guarded quarantine station in England. For the past 18 months Australia had been importing stock through this station and no trace of the disease had been found. Mr Donald felt sure that the rigid regulations in force in London were quite sufficient to allow stock to be shipped .to New Zealand without any risk being incurred. He asked, in view of the seriousness of the position, that the delegates present express their views freely.

The opinion of Mr W Perry, a member of tlie Board of Agriculture, was sought at this stage, Mr Perry prefacing his remarks with jslie observation that, as. the Romney breeders were holding their own, they were perhaps not very much interested in the lifting of the embargo. However, there were breed' societies which required help through the importation of stock from England. The Board of Agriculture had given a great deal of consideration to the matter and the decision it had arrived at had not been a unanimous one. The speaker’s personal opinion was that the position had not been explained sufficiently and many resolutions were being passed by those who were not actually competent to express an opinion. A strict quarantine, which had been established, made all the difference, and the authorities at Home were taking every precaution to see that the disease did not get through the station. The long voyage to New Zealand was an added safeguard against tlie disease. Australia, Canada, South Africa and the Argentine were importing from Britain and neither South Africa nor Australia had the disease. It was New Zealand’s duty to guard its great reputation for fat lambs as Australia and the Argentine were making evory effort to get on level term in this respect. If New Zealand was going to keep up its beef cattle, it would have to import fresh blood. There was stock filtering through from Canada, .and Mr Perry could not see why, if breeders were prepared to bring the best they could to New Zealand, t'iey should not be allowed to do so, especially if there was no risk. The secretary (Mr E. Wackrill) reported that the council had considered a remit which asked that the embargo be lifted, six being in favour of the remit while eight were against it. Mr Jas. Knight (Feilding) said the Southdown breeders needed the importation of stock. Shepherds’ clothes coming to New Zealand carried no inspection, and yet there were no objections forthcoming. The speaker did not fear that the disease would reach New Zealand. Mr A. Swift (Taihape) claimed that the disease would not come out with clothes, but Mr J. E. Hewitt (Mangamaire) said he was against the embargo being lifted under any consideration. It had been said that New Zealand wanted fresh stock blood, but to what country did England go to improve its stock quality ? They had done it without going abroad, and New Zealand could do likewise. The speaker recalled that New Zealand cattle had taken prizes against English cattle at the Sydney Royal Show, and in any case the Dominion could not afford to take the risk of lifting the embargo. Mr Q. Donald said he had heard the remarks of Mr McLinden on the subject of lifting the embargo with pleasure, the latter being emphatic that the disease could not reach New Zealand. Breeders in this country could not afford to wait to build up their flocks and herds when the blood was already available and, further, other countries were getting in ahead of New Zealand.

Mr Swift said New Zealand was too easily led. Germany and the Argentine did not think they were ruined because they had the disease. Mr A. E. Harding (Dargaville) thought it was only fear of the disease which was prompting the objecting to the lifting of the embargo. The regulations regarding quarantine made everything watertight, and he did not think clothes would carry disease, althought he agreed that boots would. He believed there was a greater danger from the importation of bulbs and tubers than from stock. New Zealand could not afford to wait in building up its stock in view of the competition in the Argentine. A great deal of New Zealand’s prosperity depended on the lamb trade, and he for one did not want to see it go back. Mr A. L. Wheeler (Marton) emphatically protested against the lifting of the embargo. The best veterinary brains of the world had been working on the problem and no cure had yet been reached. These men were not satisfied that there was no risk.

Mr N. P. Nielsen (Tiakitahuna) also urged that care should be used in asking for the embargo to be raised, but Mr Sidey, wool expert, Lincoln College, who has recently returned from England, said he had been informed that there was no risk of the disease being introduced by cattle, but with straw it was possible to import it. Even if the Romney breeders did not want fresh blood, there were other breeds which did and he suggested that New Zealand send hay and other fodder for the cattle to use coming out. This would eliminate the one danger that existed. Mr J. W. Harding moved at this stage that the embargo be lifted, the voting being 10 in favour and 16 against. That the department be asked to publish all the available information about the disease was a suggestion put forward by Mr E. R. Black (Gisborne), ue suggestion being put as a motion at the request of the chairman and carried, Mr Wheeler seconding it. The discussion on the subject of the disease then lapsed, the meeting being addressed by Mr Sidey on liis observations during his recent trip to England.