The MANAWATU DAILY Times MARCH 25, 1936. The Stock Embargo

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 71, 25 March 1936, Page 4

The MANAWATU DAILY Times MARCH 25, 1936. The Stock Embargo

The Government’s decision to take no action concerning the embargo on imported livestock is due no doubt more to the fact that Ministers are too busy with pressing problems than to any decision resulting from a careful study of the problem. The statement of the Minister of Agriculture gives point, however, to a further contribution from Lord Bledisloe, who has always fought strenuously against the restrictions placed on the importation of pedigree stock into the Dominion. In a letter to the London Times New Zealand s late Governor-General returns to the attack and again presses for the lifting of the embargo. It cannot be denied that he has good grounds for insisting that the Dominion’s restrictions arc unnecessarily harsh and scientifically unjustified a churlish return, indeed, for the many instances of the economic preferences by means of which Great Britain assists us to li\e. In this respect Australia is giving New Zealand a lead in patriotism and broadmindedness which should certainly be followed. Only a little over two weeks ago Sir Merrill Burrell, speaking at a meeting of the council of the Loyal Agricultural Society, expressed warm appreciation of the new Australian method of co-operative financial assistance in the importation of stud stock. The fact is that the embargo on British pedigree animals is a great mistake, and the new Government should lose no time in enacting the legislation that will remove it. The chief cause of its imposition was apprehension lest foot-and-mouth disease should be carried to New Zealand and be spread among local stock. However, there are no longer any grounds for such misgivings, for the precautions against dissemination of the infection are so thorough as to preclude anything but a clean bill of health for animals landed in the Dominion. One authority has gone so far as to declare that the germs of the disease could not live for more than four or five days, and that this was covered by six days of quarantine. His opinions appear to be supported by Colonel H. A. Reid, formerly in charge of the AVallaceville Veterinary Laboratory, wlm, when recently addressing a branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said that his own important farming interests would restrain him from advocating the removal of the embargo had he the least fear of the introduction of the disease. Still another strong argument against the embargo arises from the risk that its persistent operation will eventually cause a deterioration in our stock and consequently in our primary produce. The Dominion, whose prosperity is largely founded on the quality of her exports, cannot afford to be faced with a contingency of this nature. The inconsistency revealed in spending large sums in scientific research aimed at maintaining quality and at the same time closing the door against the most vital means of attaining this end is obvious. Others besides people connected with rural industry must realise how the Argentine Republic built up her herds and flocks to their present standard. Her sheep, at any rate, were not always of good quality. Importations of certain breeds from New Zealand Have helped her a great deal. In the matter of dairy research it is announced that the Dominion is now to work in co-operation with Australia. Therefore, in view of the substance of a London cablegram of a few days ago stating that, owing to the virtual collapse of the Anglo-Dutch discussions, coupled with the astonishing trade treaty Holland has just concluded with Germany, Great Britain is contemplating giving the Dominions, particularly Australia and New Zealand, a larger share of the imports of dairy products, it would seem more than ever imperative that New Zealand should join the Commonwealth in its policy of opening the way for the importation of stud stock. The Dominion is establishing a reputation for imposing embargoes which is not altogether enviable-