CATTLE IMPORT BAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17126, 5 December 1929, Page 10

CATTLE IMPORT BAN

JERSEY JUDGE’S PROTEST ANIMALS THROUGH AMERICA ALLEGATION OF EXPLOITATION. Dissatisfaction with the methods followed in the importation of logit-class Jersey cattle to New Zealand was expressed by Mr. R. L. Horn, ot Manawatu, prior to his departure from To Aiolia, where he judged the Jersey cattle at the Thames Valley Show. All. Horn said lie was strongly of opinion that every effort should be made to have the ban lifted from the importation of cattle from Great Britain. It had been imposed owing to' the alleged danger of the spreading of foot and mouth disease. - In existing conditions cattle could not he imported to New Zealand direct from Jersey, and cows that came to New Zealand came through America. Buyers in that country retained the best animals, for which absolutely prohibitive prices were asked. Cattle that came to New Zealand were really culls or rejects of the American buyers. While tit Jersey recently, said Mr. Horn, he had noted scores of very high-grade animals at very reasonable prices, which, if they could he imported to New Zealand direct, would quickly raise the standard of Jersey bleeding in the Dominion. Provision had been made for quarantining cattle at Southampton. over what was considered a sate period before shipment to the Dominions. But South Africa was the only country to avail itself of the opportunity thus presented. A visit to England ainj Jersey had convinced him that the menace of foot and mouth disease hud been greatly exaggerated, mostly by an army of of iicials who- were doing little or nothing to stamp it out. Foot- and mouth disease was unknown, at Jersey, whero there had never been a single case. Proper precautions against its introduclion to other countries were' necessary. but these need not be irksome and generally impossible to correctly observe without risk and a large expenditure. The matter could best- he remedied by setting up some sort- of board or bod\- of Jersey breeders in New Zealand, with a representative, preferably a resident at Jersey, to select cattle and conserve the interests of New Zealand buyers. To overcome certain regulations, the cattle could be quarantined on the island or near it, and supplied with fodders and straw sent from New Zealand. Some such system was strongly needed to prevent American exploitation of New Zealand buyers and permit of the latter buying the finest Jerseys at a reasonable price.