FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19501, 3 December 1926, Page 14

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

PREVENTING! INTRODUCTION. MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS. [BYI TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] PUKEKOHE. Thursday. The Agricultural Department is framing more stringent regulations to guard against the introduction of foot and mouth : disease into New Zealand. In a circular letter received by the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce last evening, the department stated that the present regulations, requiring the destruction by burning of hay, straw, or chaff used as packing round goods imported from Britain and the Continent, were not operating as efficiently,as was hoped. The disease having become more widespread in Great Britain and conditions on the Continent being very bad, extreme care was necessary to prevent the entrance to New Zealand of any material which might possibly act. as it medium for, conveying infection.

After consultation with the High Commissioner, it had been decided to make further regulations prohibiting the use of hay, straw or chaff for packing goods to be sent to New Zealand, with the exception, however, that in the case of Great Britain such packing would be allowed, provided it had been effectively disinfected before use and was accompanied by a sworn certificate or statutory declaration to that j effect from the exporter or packer, countersigned as correct by a responsible officer appointed by the High Commissioner. The department added that these regulations Were to be gazetted to come into force on March 25, 1927, and the High Commissioner was notifying British exporters. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. H. Curd, said the disease, was a very serious one, causing graiit loss among live stock. It was the duty of commercial men and all other residents to co-operate with the department to keep it out of New Zealand.