PRECAUTIONS TAKEN AGAINST INTRODUCTION OF FOOT AND MOUTH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6671, 26 July 1928, Page 14

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN AGAINST INTRODUCTION OF FOOT AND MOUTH

From Our Parliamentary Eeporter, Times Special. WELLINGTON, Last' Night. The precautions taken by tho Government to prevent the introduction of foot and mouth disease in packing material were mentioned in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. J. C. Eollcston (Waitomo) asked the Minister of Agriculture, the HonO. J. Hawken, -whether as a further precaution against the introduction of foot and mouth disease into tho Domin?6n he would issue regulations that materials used for packing purposes coining from countries whore foot and mouth disease, exists should be stained a distinguishing colour and that the stained packing must be burnt within seven dayA of being received into the Dominion. Although all packing material had to be sterilised before leaving infected countries there was nothing to indicate by its appearance that that had bpcu done, Mr. Eollcston said. Tho Minister replied that the use of -bay or straw for packing purposes was prohibited as regards countries otho? than Great Britain where foot and mouth disease existed. As regards Great Britain no hay or straw packing was allowed unless it was certified as having been sterilised in accordance with the regulations. Certificates of proper sterilisation had to be furnished by responsible officials and these were believed to be quite reliable., Hence it became a question whether staining in addition was needed as an additional safeguard together with tho compulsory destruction of tho sterilised material after unpacking. ! The High Commissioner .was being communicated with on these points. ,