CATTLE THROWN IN SEA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16114, 1 May 1923, Page 5

CATTLE THROWN IN SEA.

AN ASTONISHING STORY

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Aii astoriishihg story of 1250 sheep and cdtbife secretly thrown overboard' in midocean and drowned' without trace to hide an outbreak of foot audi mouth dirense, was revealed!'in the House of Commons recently by Major Barnslon.

The'steamer HartingjLon left Buenos Aires on December 29 with a caryci which consisted mostly of grain for London. On. January J she loadied! at Monte Video 250 cattle and 10CO sheen consigned to Antwerp. Whem the vessel was a few days out at sea from Monte Vidro disease, which the Ministry of Agriculture had reason to believe was foot and 1 mouth difoase, broke outi.

All tho animals were jettisoned, and all the fittings and fodder wore also thrown overboard 1 . The decks were cleaned in order to show no trace of animals having been carried, Tho vessel put in at Antwerp, and later arrived at London. No declaration was made to the Customs authorities at London, about the jettisoning of the animals, but five days later, when the vessel had almost finished discharging her cargo of feeding stuffs, information about. tho animals reached the Ministry from a private source.

The feeding stuffs was immediately \ raced' to their destinations and: disposal was held up until the Ministry was satisfied that release might be permitted. livery practicable step was being taken to prevent the spread: of the disease.