SWINE FEVER OUTBREAK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21493, 17 May 1933, Page 12

SWINE FEVER OUTBREAK

MORE FARMS AFFECTED THE DIGGING OF TRENCHES WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED [1) Y T !•: LKGKM'H—OWN 00Ml EH I'( IN I) KN t] AVELLTNG TON, Tu cud ny There are indications that the outbreak of swino fever in the JohnsonvilJo district may spread over a considerable area unless immediate and drastic action is taken. Pigs on two more farms in tho affected area showed symptoms indicative of tho disease overnight, making seven farms involved in that district. It seems as though the outbreak was not reported promptly to tho Department of Agriculture, as one case at Normandale, Lower Hutt, which was not generally known, and was mentioned for the first timo to-day, occurred a week ago. This will necessitate a wider radius of examination by the department than was at first supposed. It is stated the trouble is more likely to spread during rainy or misty weather than in fine. So far no pigs have been destroyed by the department, which is awaiting the completion of trenches. This may mean that no pigs will be destroyed until Thursday. The outbreak has resulted in the death or condemnation of soino hundreds of pigs on about six farms, and individual farmers' losses may bo as high as 200. The burial of the carcases on the spot is work of extreme urgency, and trenches are being dug by relief workers. This has led to a protest from the men, voiced by Mr. D. S. Campbell, secretary of the Wellington Relief Workers' Union.

Mr. W. Bromley, a member of the Unemplo3 r ment Board, said that the board did not consider the men had ground for complaint, and those carrying out the work were not in fact complaining. The work was the digging of trenches and trench digging at Johnsonville was little different from digging trenches on hillsides in Wellington. The men were not being .asked to handle the pigs at all, for that work would be done by the Department of Agriculture. The reason for offering the work to Johnsonville men during their standdown week was that they had complained of difficulty in providing for themselves during that period, but they had declined to do the work unless they were paid 16s a day, wishing apparently to exploit the difficulty that had arisen. The board could not agree to payment of the rate asked. The Wellington relief workers, said Mr. Bromley, were aware of the work which they were to be called upon to do when they left the city, and he was informed by the certifying officer that they were not complaining about digging the trenches. PROTEST FOR RELIEF WORKERS HIGHER PAY SOUGHT [BY TELEGRAPH —OWX CORHESPONDKNT] WELLINGTON, Tuesday "I desire to enter an emphatic protest," said Mr. Campbell, secretary of the Wellington Relief Workers' Union, "against relief workers being asked to work on the farms at Johnsonville burying pigs which have died or have been slaughtered as a result of the outbreak of swine fever."

Mr. Campbell continued that he visited Johnsonville tliis morning. After referring to the conditions, he said the work was to be done by relief workers at 10s a day. He had approached Mr. G..C. Godfrey, commissioner of unemployment, who stated that nothing extra could be paid. Representations were next made to the Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, who stated that nothing could be done until the Minister returned in 10 days. It was alleged-by Mr. Campbell that Wellington Labour Bureau officials had taken men from college jobs and sent them to Johnsonville in Government cars. There was no question of calling for volunteers. When they objected to t>ho work they were told that if they refused they would not be granted relief work in Wellington. REFUSAL OF WORK ENDORSED DECISION AT WELLINGTON [BY TELEGRAPH —TRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLING TON, Tuesday Delegates from relief workers on various jobs met this evening and discussed the placing of men to dig trenches in which to bury pigs at Johnsonville. The Wellington union endorsed the attitude of tho Johnsonville men in refusing to do the work at relief rates, and decided to accord them full support.