THE FOOT AND MOUTH DANGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20011, 30 July 1928, Page 12

THE FOOT AND MOUTH DANGER.

Sir, —May I enter a protest against the action of tho Government in allowing tho importation of Angora rabbits. I read some very sensiblo remarks in the Herald of July 25, by an Auckland resident with experience of foot and mouth disease in Scotland. In view of tho grave danger of introducing this dread disease i cannot understand the Government in allowing such importation, which will not bo of benefit to many and may ho a menace to die wholo country. The Government would bo better employed devising ways and means of clearing out the pests that already are hero. I wonder the farmers do not riso in a body and protest against what may be the means of ruining our fair country and practically wiping us off the map. We have a climate and soil hardly to he equalled in the world. Our cattle are tho admiration and envy of other countries, whose people are only too glad to pay handsome prices to obtain the sarno. And what of our butter, cheese, wool, lamb and other exports? 1 think New Zealand has a wonderful future ahead of her and the science of farming is progressing by leaps and bounds. Why destroy it all by importing what would no doubt eventually become a pest and also run tho risk of introducing disease ? Anything to safeguard our interests and tho country as a whole should be thoroughly investigated. I have been connected with farming all my life and know what the farmer is up against all the time, with abortion, mammitis and other diseases. It- is a constant fight and I think tho Government should help us in every way to combat what we already have here, and to rigidly enforce laws to keep out further trouble. Waikato Farmer's Wife.