CATTLE TICK MENACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18763, 17 July 1924, Page 5

CATTLE TICK MENACE.

PREVENTING ITS SPREAD, DEPARTMENTAL MEASURES SEGREGATION OF AREAS. [EX telegraph.—ewx CORRESPONDENT.] "WELLIiING TOX, 3"?edneß<iay. A statement was made to-day by the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, in regard to cattle ticks. " In the regulations issued under the Stock Act, for the prevention of the spread of cattle ticks," said Mr. Nosworthy, " two areas are defined, one in which ticks are numerous and called ' A ' area, comprising the whole of the North Auckland district and parts of Oorornandel and the Bay of Plenty districts, and the other ' B ' area, comprising the district south of area ' A,' in which ticks have also been found, but in more or less isolated parts, this area forming what might be called a ' buffer' with the twofold object of endeavouring to clean it up, and of acting as a protection between badlyaffected and clean areas. Within area 'A' and where ticks are found to be present in area ' B,' it is the duty of every stockowner to do all that is reasonably possible to keep his stock free ;from cattle tick, by either dipping or otherwise effectively treating them ito the satisfaction of the inspector. In the event of failure to comply, the inspector is empowered to serve any such stockowner with a notice to dip, or otherwise effectively treat his stock within a specified time. " No stock may be removed from area ' A ' unless and until the same have been dipped and a permit issued, when they may leave area ' A,' but only within 30 hours from the time for dipping. In the case of area ' B,' no stock are permitted to be removed to clean country unless a permit has been obtained, and should the inspector havo reason to believe that cattle ticks exist on any land from which stock are to be removed he may require the owner to dip or otherwise effectively treat them for cattle ticks before he issues a permit for tha removal " Should any stock bs found in any yards, or other places where stock are offered for sale, affected with cattle tick, the owners become liable to prosecution, and the animals are ordered to be withdrawn. from sale and dipped or otherwise effectively treated. " Crossing places have been declared at which keepers have been appointed to collect permits, and generally to see that stock are not removed from the affected areas to clean country without complying with the regulations pertaining thereto.

"To assist in controlling the tick a large number of cattle dips (52) have been erected by committees of settlers and others, for which a subsidy of £150 per dip has been paid by the Government. Every endeavour has been mads to carry out the reasonable requirements of the regulations as regards the control of the cattle tick, and the prevention of its spread, special attention being paid to the endeavour to prevent it spreading to clean areas. _ " No stock are permitted to be shipped from any port in the North Island unJess they have been first examined and declared freie from cattle tick."