THE PERTHSHIRE'S CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2151, 16 May 1895, Page 3

THE PERTHSHIRE'S CATTLE.

The outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia on fooard the Perthshire, the proofs of which were indubitably established while the vessel was in Lyttelton harbour, would be a sufficiently serious

matter at any time, but at the present moment is specially unfortunate. The trade in live cattle between Australasia and London is only in its infancy, but there was every prospect of it growing into large proportions, and that at a time when a new industry would be of i incalculable advantage to these colonies. I Difficulties were to be expected in the trade, of course. . The carriage of large cattle over a long sea voyage, in cramped positions, on artificial food, and subject to much disturbance and unrest, is a trade which could not be other than subject to occasional losses of a more or less serious kind. But the experiments which have been made seemed to show that the margin of profit might be sufficiently wide to much more than cover all ordinary costs and contingencies. The one contingency not calculated upon — for it seemed as if care in shipping would be almost a guarantee of safety — was the outbreak of a virulent disease of a highly infectious type; and that is precisely what has happened, most unfortunately, at the very initiation of the trade. For had it been in full swing the position would not have been so bad. When once wants are created and a trade demand is established, the means will generally be found under the multiplication of precautions for carrying it on. The danger now is that a prejudice may in England be created against the meat of imported live stock, and that legislative exclusion may follow the prejudice. At the same time it may be as well to point out that the position may not be as bad as it seems. In the first place there is always the chance that the disease may make no further progress among the cattle of the Perthshire. It is a rather slender hope to be sure, but if the disease turns out to be not of a very virulent type, and rigid sanitary measures are taken on board the vessel, it is by no means impossible that its progress should be arrested. But whether or no, it has to be borne in mind that New Zealand is by no means necessarily affected by the mishap. It is perfectly absurd to suppose that the people of England cannot be made to understand that cattle shipped from Queensland are not cattle shipped from New Zealand. At the present time New Zealand as against the rest of the world Btands in a peculiarly

favoured position with the mother country so far as the cattle trade is concerned, for the markets of England are apparently open to us whereas the ports only are open to other countries. And the fact that Queensland, which is not so favoured, should by accident send a shipment of diseased cattle to England is no reason why New Zealand should bo deposed from a position tho advantages of which she has never forfeited. Moreover, she is not at all likely to forfeit them. There can be no doubt that in point of immunity from many infectious diseases, whether of nmn or beast, New Zealand enjoys all the advantages that belong, not only to a singularly healthy climate, but also to a wind-swept insularity of position. It is now known that pleuropneumonia is a disease which cannot, or at least docs not, arise spontaneously, no matter how favourable to it local conditions may be. Like many other dread diseases incidental to man and beast it requires the presence of a specific organism, a germ, which must find its way into the lung of the animal. At one time it was thought that dirt, poverty, and other conditions unfavourable to the health of the animal were competent to induce or generate the disease. It is now known that the utmost such conditions can do is to predispose the animal to the disease when the germ is present. No country in the world can boast of perfect immunity from an infectious disease, but some are at least much more favourably situated than others, and in New Zealand the conditions are as favourable as can be conceived. Australia, on the other hand, is never really free from the germs of the disease. If the conditions are favourable in one portion they are not so much so in another ; while in some localities, such as the coast line of Queensland, the combination of heat, moisture, and a tropical vegetation supply all the conditions best calculated to keep the disease germs in activity. Even in England it is probable the germ is always present, j though the outbreaks are fewer and i less virulent now than they have been in the past. That vessels engaged in the Australian cattle trade and coaling at New Zealand ports will carry with them an element of danger is undeniable. But so long as the cattle are not allowed to land, there is no reason whatever why we should go into a panic j over it. Tt is probable that the outbreak oif board the Perthshire will act as a warning to Australians, ] and induce more stringent regulations ■ in connection with the shipping of cattle, so that there may be no need for us to do more than carefully exercise the ample powers with which the Stock department is already invested. The value of the Australian trade to us is not to be despised. At the same time it has to be recognised that the utmost care and stringency con- j ceivable exercised in Australia^ afford i no guarantee whatever that diseased cattle may not be occasionally shipped at Australian ports— that is, of course, so long as pleuro-pneumonia exists on the Australian continent. For the period of incubation of the disease may extend over a very considerable period, so that animals shipped with the germs of disease in , them may still present to the eyo the appearance of: perfect health. With Australian regulations at the port of shipment we have nothing to do ; but the law gives us, as we have said, ample powers over Australian cattle vessels in New Zealand waters. In the case of the Perthshire the Stock department appears to have acted with commendable promptitude and judgment, and vigilance, is not likely to be relaxed now that we have been forewarned of the danger.