CATTLE TICK REPRESSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 10

CATTLE TICK REPRESSION.

WILL “ANTI-TTCK” MEASURES WORK? A DISQUIETING QUESTION. Discussing tho “anti-tick _ measures taken by the Counties of Waikohu and Cook, conjointly, at tbe boundaries of the “A” area, a resident of Gisborne deeply interested in tho matter, raised the question as to whether the measures are adequate. The Counties had taken the initiative, he pointod out, and established crossingkeepers at the boundaries, at Toatoa and Oponae, to prevent un-dipped cattle, horses or dogs from entering tho clean country. The remuneration of these o-nards will comprise a retainer of £25 per annum and a per capita payment of one shilling for every horse sprayed or <'og dipped. The crossing keeper at Toatoa will have two roads, that join near the settlement, to watch; the Oponae guard will have but one road. In addition to these three roads, access to the “B” or buffer area, may be gained'by way of the Motu falls bridge,! in respect of wlvch no “anti” measures have been as yet taken. The informant pointed out, further, that the work of guarding the roads will entail constant vigilance by night and day, as Maoris and other's on horseback make continual use of the roads, and the watcher must be prepared to leave his bed at any hour of the night, in order to investigate tho qualifications of every traveller. Most drovers will have their horses and dogs dipped at Opotiki, with the result that there will be little revenue for the keeper, while it is safe to say that most, of those, using the road, and particularly Maoris, will endeavor to evade paying tho dipping charges. Dogs carried in motor cars represent a great difficulty, and a means must be devised to put the responsibility of any breach of the regulations upon the driver of a car. The measures so far adopted or proposed are wholly inadequate, and one of the reasons is that to expect a keeper to devote practically the whole of his time to the work is ridiculous, in view of the smallness of his remuneration—while the job is not to be undertaken in tho off hours of any resident along the road. Something more comprehensive must be devised if the tick is to be kept out of Poverty Bay. That tho tick is spreading there is no room to doubt, since it was recently reported to have manifested itself in Taranaki, where, by the way, there is a disquieting silence maintained by tho departmental officers. Unless action is taken early, there is every reason to' 'expect on incursion of the pest among tho herds of Fovcrty Bay. '