ECZEMA IN STOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 21

ECZEMA IN STOCK

GRAVITY- OF OUTBREAK PUBLICITY NOT WISE THE NEED FOR RESEARCH [fiioji our own cokrkspondknt] PUKEKOHE, Friday "Personally, I think Sir Hugh Acland made the statement to meet reports which Australian producers are circulating about affected meat," said Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., to members of tho Franklin sub-provincial executive of the Farmers' Union to-day during a discussion on a statement by Sir Hugh Acland, chairman of tho New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation, that the eczema outbreak in the Auckland Province was largely exaggerated. The matter was brought up by Mr. F. A. Harcombe, who said that, in his opinion, the ravages caused by tho disease wero much graver than was generally thought, and ho took tho view that the executive should take strong exception to Sir Hugh's statement. He considered that a survey should be made of the effects of facial eczema in tho Dominion, so that, in the event of any recurrence of the trouble, the authorities and tho farmers themselves would know exactly where they stood. Causes and Remedies "Thero is no doubt in my mind that wo have not seen the last of tho trouble," Mr. Harcombe said. "At tho present juncture we are no better oil' than we wero before the trouble sta rtod.'' "We are an exporting country, and it is not in our interests to advertise the true facts of the eczema too much," said Mr. W. Walters, who added that he thought no good would be gained by publishing the actual mortality figures. Rather" a commission should be set up to find out tho causes and suggest remedies. "Until recently thero was nothing like co-ordination among the various Government departments concerned —• the Department of Agiiculture, tho Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Cawthron Institute," said Mr. Rushworth. Throughout the world, ho added, civilised countries wero faced with the problem of soil deterioration, which seemed .to be. the root of many of the troubles of animal husbandry. Soil deterioration was occurring in New Zealand, and sooner or later the problem would have to be faced. However, better co-operation among scientific departments was now in evidence. Motion Defeated A motion that tho Government Statistician bo asked to compile tho definite mortality figures in connection with the facial eczema outbreak was defeated. On the motion of Mr. C. A. Mooro, tho following proposal was carried: — "That the Government he again urged to encourage more co-ordination among the various departments of research, and that the necessity for extending the activities of the departments concerned with mineral deficiency and food research bo emphasised."