EMBARGO ON STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 19

EMBARGO ON STOCK.

THE AUSTRALIAN POSITION, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. The gist ot the official reply to recent representations that there bo a little elasticity about the Australian embargo on British stud stock clue to foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks is to point to the appalling result* to our live stock if the disease were ever introduced into this country It is further affirmed, or stated in wordt to that effect, that we are none the worse off for inability to sccurt British stud stock, the local article being sufficient for purposes of breeding improvements We have always stressed the point that no steps should bo taken that would subject our stock to risk of infection, and wo do not. propose that there should bo anv relaxation j/av of a nature that would" introduce the slightest element ot risk, comments the Pastoral Review, but wo still maintain that the precautions aru being necessarily overdone. If, as is officially interred, the inability to import were of no matter to the stock industry generally, we should scarcely worry how unnecessarily stringent the regulations were, in spite of the injustice to British stud breeders in cutting them out ot a market on grounds without real war ran'. But many local stud breeders find they must from time to time draw on British blood, evon as they and breeder.-) iu other countries have done ir. the past and must always continue to de in the future. Such being the case the undue severity of the regulations is a matter of serious moment to many 01 our _ live stock breeders, and wo would again ask why this country cannot recognise the zone system under which imports of cattle could be allowed from any county in Great Britain which has been free from outbreaks of foot-and-mouth_ disease, for say, three months before time of shipment? Under t-hU system, licences have to be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture setting forth that the promises and county from which the cattle are being taken are, and have been for the specified length of time, free from the disease . Further considering that the incubation period of the disease is 10 days, theie is surely sufficient safeguard in a six weeks' voyage such as that to Australia and New Zealand, combined with the immunity conferred by the zone system, and a lengthy period of quarantine at the port of disembarkation.