STUD STOCK EMBARGO

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 170, 19 June 1936, Page 13

STUD STOCK EMBARGO

REMOVAL URGED. BY HEREFORD BREEDERS. The question of removing the embargo on direct importations of live stock from Great Britain was advocated at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Hereford Cattle Breeders’ Association yesterday strong copetition from Australia and the Argentine being cited as the reason for the step.

Introducing the subject, Mr C. At. Cranston (Eordell) said: “To follow up this vexed question of the embargo, I am going to move that the restrictions on the importation of cattle from England be removed. I had my eyes opened at the Sydney Royal Show and I now feel that we should press for direct shipments of live stock. AVliut I want to do is to eliminate the three months’ quarantine in Australia.”

The proposal was seconded by Mr H. B. Stuckey, who stated that he was particularly pleased to note that Mr Cranston had changed his opinions on the question. He was satisfied that New Zealanders breeders had to he up and doing in the matter ol maintaining the quality of the country’s live stock. Other countries were definitely improving their cattle herds while New Zealand was standing still. At present the Dominion held the premier place oil the London market, but unless something was done to introduce new blood that position would he lost.

Further support for the motion was forthcoming from Mr J. M. James (Mustert-on), who stated that he was wholly in sympathy with the proposal permitting the direct importation of live stock. Australia had no embargo and was rapidly building up the quality and standard of her cattle. The Government and shipping companies were assisting breeders and that was proving of great aid to the Australian cattle and heel industry. Surely New Zealand breeders had enough confidence in the veterinary officers controlling the exporting and importing of live stock to be assured that the disease would not he admitted to New Zealand. The quarantine regulations were strict enough and he saw nothing to fear in obtaining direct shipments. The Government would not do anything unless (he farmers made the first move. Farmers’ conferences, he admitted, had turned down proposals for the lifting of the embargo, and he considered it was entirely due to failure to understand the precautions taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Australia had no restriction and had not suffered.

Mr E. AY. Barnett (Halcomho) said that reports of the drastic methods of treating outbreaks at disease in England influenced the opinions of New Zealand farmers against any lifting of the embargo. He suggested that the association should make full inquiries and obtain the fullest information on the disease.

Instead of carrying Air Cranston’s motion, the meeting decided to reaffirm the following resolution carried at the meeting of the association in June, 1933: “That the council is of the opinion that the embargo on the importation of live stock from Great Britain should be lifted to allow stock to enter this Dominion under controlled shipments.”

The motion was carried unanimously and it was decided to forward a copy to the Minister of Agriculture.