Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1936, Page 9

Readers Write

THE GOVERNMENT’S WAYS

(To the Editor). Sir,— Somebody must have told the Hon. W. E. Parry that there “is a war on in Europe.” It is to be hoped the news does not spread to the other Government members. They are so happy, just now, making road’s to nowhere and laying rails for trains no one wants to ride in. Of course, that is only the ones who are not busily employed packing to go to the Coronation. They had better look out; if the war spreads too much there may be no Coronation, or no ships to go in. Anyway, what is the use of them worrying themselves about defence? They have no guns or gas masks, and only two suitable planes, and, anyway, no soldiers, and five-eighths of the New Zealand young men have “cold feet” or something which prevents them fighting to protect their country. Perhaps it will be an Army of Amazons who will go out to protect New Zealand? Our women, too, seem to be getting soft, running about the ; country trying to prevent small children from having soldiers and guns as toys, as if generations of children had not played with toy soldiers since the days of the Crimea War—and suffered no harm from them. Mr Semple is very busy trying to shoo the workers, like a lot of fowls, back on to the farms. He really hasn’t much chance of doing so, when he has made life so attractive for them in the towns, with his 40 hour week, high wages, and all day Saturday to spend it. Who wants to work hard with their Xmas stockings already hung up to catch the “bonus” and the “fortnight’s pay and no work”? The farmer, poor deluded creature, will be left to get in his own hay and milk his own cows, and to reflect what a rod he made for his own back when he voted Labour. The only “cattle” many workers want to see ax’e on the racecourses, and all he knows about “shearing” is when the “bookie” fleeces him. I am, etc., MARTHA SOUTHDOWN.

DISEASED ANIMAL IMPORTATIONS.

(To the Editor). Sir, —In the supplement to the "Northern Advocate" of 21st inst., you mention that members of the touring party of Dominion farmers expressed the opinion that “the time was ripe for the removal of the embargo.” This is an extremely important subject that cannot wisely be disregarded by primary producers, who rely on livestock for their Indeed, anyone has only to visit our annual shows to be convinced that there are sheep, cattle and horses in New Zealand having all the essential qualities for profit making and a durable life, here, without importing diseases from Britain that are evidently ineradicable. If there is any unhealthy livestock here, almost certainly it will be ascribable to conditions that should not be allowed and can be prevented from existing. Sentiment is a precious virtue, and should be fostered, but it is debarred from business by the urgency of self preservation. And surely our farmers are as alert and capable as those in Britain,, of whom, perhaps, only an insignificant few would be benefited, just as only a few would be enriched here by having the enticing v/ord "imported” added to the pedigree of their flocks and herds. No doubt we have been enriched by valuable and impoverished by destructive importations from Britain, and as experience teaches wisdom to the wise, our best policy is to see that the progeny of valuable importations are prevented by “careful nourishment” from deteriorating. Our fertile land and favourable climatic conditions enable that to be done. And it is notable that destructive animals, birds, insects and noxious weeds thrive and increase to such an amazing extent that only by ceaseless vigilance can the farmers in New Zealand secure the utmost productive fruit from their labour. Herds of wild cattle living in frigid conditions, and inbreeding during ten years, have not shown the slightest deterioration in size, symmetry or quality, although decreasing or increasing in accord with the severity or the mildness of the winters. If the deadly disease gets a grip on our livestock, not only the farmers, but also "every citizen.” will be involved in the ruinous implications inseparable from the persistence of the foot and mouth disease, and also by the unreasonable persistence of a few men who may cause our ports to be opened for the introduction of a disease still more, much more, pestilential than any yet experienced by the brave men and women whose indispensable exemplary efforts have preserved the solvency of this nation. I am. etc.. WILLIAM R. KEAY. Herekino.