Stock Poisoned by Arsenic

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 4

Stock Poisoned by Arsenic

Unusual Discovery In Rotorua Area MINISTER ANSWERS QUESTION IN HOUSE Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. Replying to an urgent question by Air. A. F. Aloncur (Govt.—Rotorua) in the House as to whether he noticed a statement published in liutorua that an official from Wallaccvillc laboratory had claimed to have discovered that soils at Reporoa were impregnated with arsenic and that this was the cause of what had long been known in that district as bush sickness in cattle. Tho Alinister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Lee Martin) said the possibility ot some unusual cause of death being present was first brought to the notice ol his Department towards the end of last year. As a result of an investigation made by the Department's chief agricultural chemist it was found that the surface water of the area, and in particular on one farm mentioned in the ’ article referred to by Air. Aloncur, was impregnated with arsenic. From the t analyses so far made the Department , was aware of only one farm which was affected. It was on the border c£ tho Waiotapu thermal reserve, the waters of which contained arsenic salts in solu- ■ tion. It was not considered that human > life was endangered and it did not appear that the occurrence of arsenic in , tnis area was of any commercial value. , The Department was continuing its inquiries but it was not anticipated that thorough inquiries would show that the trouble was more widespread than was at first anticipated. [Further details of the discovery appear in to-day's issue on Page 9.]