FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE ON THE CONTINENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 21

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE ON THE CONTINENT.

People in this country (says the North British Agriculturist) do not seem to have any idea of the wide-spread nature of bha foot-and-mouth disease trouble on tho Continent. The wonder, indeed, if all the facts be as stated, is not that we have occasional outbreaks, but thrst we have escaped so comparatively lisrhtlv as we lia-ve done. In the course of his speech in tho House of Commons, Mr Runciman. President of the Board of Agriculture, staled SAt last year ■>in France there were outbreaks at no fewer than 23.000 farms. Tn Germany at one time last year, no_ less than 33.000 establishments had been infested, and tho number was about 20.000 at the close of the year. There had _ also been between 800 and 1000 outbreaks in Denmark, and about the same number in Holland and Belgium. In view of these facta, most people will admit that

Mr Runciman was justified in putting down his foot, and refusing to reopen the port* to foreign hay. There is practically no better carrier tlian hay, and any slackening of the regulations in favour of this commodity would be simply inviting trouble. It was stated in the course of the same debate that last year's six outbreaks in England cost the country £IO,OOO.