STOCK BREEDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23085, 9 July 1938, Page 16

STOCK BREEDING

INDIRECT IMPORTATION handicap to farmers GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO HELP fllY' TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday Tlio willingness of the Government to assist stud breeders in the importation of stud stock was indicated, by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. AY. Lee Martin, when opening the conference of the Royal Agricultural Society to-day. The Minister said he recognised that breeders were suffering serious handicaps in connection with the importation of stock, and he was prepared to discuss with the society any suggestion by which relief could be given. Mr. Loe Martin said that 14 head of cattle were imported via Tasmania and seven via Canada during. 19:36 and 1937, and, assuming that the cost o importation via those two intermediate countries was identical, importers would have been saved £IOO9 if importations had been made direct and the period of quarantine in New Zealand extended to 80 days. Direct importation anticipated a larger number of importations. « I don't think I should convey in any sense whatever that there IS a possibility of the embargo being lifted, he added, "but I would be prepared to discuss with you some approach by means of which the heavy charges incurred in the importation of stock might be lessened. . , The Government's appreciation of problems facing farmers through animal diseases was emphasised by the Minister. The object of all animal work should be prevention rather than qire, and with the proposed increases in veterinary research and instructional services many of the troubles at present causing stock losses should be eliminated. Such losses were important factors in the raising of farm costs. The only obstacle in the way of a more rapid increase in the Government s livestock services was the difficulty of procuring men capable of carrying out the work. The Director-General of Agriculture, Mi A H. Cockayne, was at present in London and he would investigate the problem of securing men. It ha< * be * extremely difficult owing to the British Government's campaign against animal disease to secure workers.