THE MOTUIHI QUARANTINE STATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9455, 10 March 1894, Page 3

THE MOTUIHI QUARANTINE STATION

Yesterday afternoon, at Goverment Buildings, a deputation from the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association waited upon Mr. Ritohie, Secretary of the Agricultural Department and Chief Inspector of Stock, in reference to the closing of Motuihi as a quarantine station. Mr. F. Lawry, M.H.R., introduced the deputation, which was composed as follows : —Messrs. Kirkbride (president of the Association), James Wallace (vice-president), W. F. Massey, W. Gardiner, J. Carruth, F. L. Wright, W. May, Hodges, G. L. Peacocke, Coates, etc. Mr. Kirkbride detailed the grounds on which there was a strong desire to retain the Quarantine Station, To remove it would have a. most disastrous effect upon the importation of stock, and. be a great inconvenience to Auckland importers. After the last session Mr. Lawry had informed them that the station was to be retained. Great was the surprise then, a month or so ago, to find that the Government had determined to close it, the reasons given being that it would involve a large annual expense to keep it going and another large expense immediately to put it in a proper state. The speaker then went on to speak of the visit of a deputation of practical men, who fixed the expense at about £130. Inquiries had been made, and it was found it would not require a" large expense if importers put their own men in charge. They would not like to put their stock in the charge of a caretaker who was not a practical man. Mr. F. L. Wright said he had bought a pedigree bull at Melbourne, and if he (the speaker) could not land him at Auckland he would have to sell at Melbourne, which would entail a loss of £100 to £150. Mr. Ritchie said the station had been closed about 12 months ago, the principal reason being that the Cattle Board was overriding the regulations. It was necessary to carry these out in accordance with arrangements with the other colonies. The Cattle Board had been privately quarantining against the regulations. The new Act came into force this year, and under it Cattle Boards were abolished. _ As to the estimated cost of making provision at Motuhihi, he had had the figures taken out. The cost of the station at Soames Island had been £900, and at Quail Island between £800 and £900. He was quite sure therefore that the whole of the £600 estimated for Motuihi would be taken up. Mr. Ritchie then went on to explain that there would require to be several paddocks double fenced, shedding, dip, etc. It had been found necessary after the experience of Soames Island, to make full provision. There they had had a lot of stock to deal with suddenly, and accommodation had to be constructed at once at a cost of something like £400. He did not think Auckland could reckon upon having more than half-a-dozen sheep per annum. In the last three years, at the island and private quarantine, there had been in Auckland 56 sheep, 5 cattle, 16 horses, and 7 dogs. Several members of the deputation thought all the ntock quarantined had not been included. Mr. Ritchie added there was no means of communicating with the island as at Wellington, and there was no veterinary surgeon in Auckland. In Wellington, where they had both, they had lost two dnga in 18 months, one of them valued at £100. Mr. Lawry said it would not cost so much to send a veterinary surgeon from Wellington as it would to send the stock. Neither would there be as much risk. The Government had just brought out two veterinary surgeons. Mr. Ritchie said one was anchored at Whanganui, on the experimental farm, and the other in the South Island. Mr. Kirkbride argued that the contention of the Government was inconsistent. If there were so little stock to quarantine why go to such a great expense to make provision. On the one hand it was said there was so little stock that it was not worth keeping open the station, and on the other if it was to be kept open provision for a lot must be made. The caretaker could be a man acquainted with stock. Mr. Ritchie replied that the caretaker was under the control of the Customs and not under the Stock Department. Mr. Coates said he would not be able to import any more stock if it hid to be sent to Wellington. Owing to climate stock lost in constitution, and it was necessary to constantly infuse new blood. Mr. Kirkbkide said the Government would certainly be out of sympathy with the people of the North if they persisted in closing the station. Mr. Peacocke asked what the annua^ expense was supposed to be. Mr. Ritchie said £300 a year. Mr. M asset said the importation of the best stock was highly necessary, and every facility should be given. After some further conversation the deputation withdrew, thanking Mr. Ritchie for his promise to lay the matter before the Hon. J. McKenzie.