NO RELAXATION URGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17522, 21 March 1931, Page 6

NO RELAXATION URGED

STOCK IMPORTATIONS FARMERS’ UNION EMPHATIC SURPRISED AT PRIME! MINISTER The Poverty Bay executive of tlie New Zealand Farmers’ Union at today s meeting was unanimously .emphatic that there should be no relaxation of the regulations prohibiting the importation ol live stock from countries intected with foot and mouth disease, and it was decided to write to the DirectorGeneral of the Department in these terms. ’The prominence the Herald had given the subject was mentioned by Air. .). E. Benson, who said he was surprised to see that Mr. Forbes thought til to allow the importation of live stock front the United Kingdom, and lie moved that the union write to the department expressing surprise at the suggestion, and urging that no relaxation of the efforts to Jmep the disease out of the country should be allowed. Mr. J. C, Field thought- the motion should go further. He said the veterinarians in England were not infallible, and if the regulations were relaxed there would be danger. lie quoted the instance of a sheep despatched to New Zealand from England as free from disease, but which died on the voyage out from tuberculosis, 'Urns demonstrating the ineffectiveness of the veterinary supervision in England. He suggested the following motion in place of Mr. Benson’s: “That the executive of the Poverty Bay branch of the Farmers’ Union urge on the Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. Realms, the necessity of the continued embargo on the importation of stock from infected countries, and also the sterilisation of straw and bedding for packing purposes.” The president, Air. F. S. Bowen, said it appeared as though Air. Forbes bad been approached by those interested in England, who had belittled the danger of infection. He said some breeders were always willing to take a risk, and the farmers of New Zealand should see that this risk was not taken. Air. 11. B. Bull remarked that the dairying industry would be greatly against risky importations, for the dairymen did not require any new blood, as thov favored a little iii-breediug. The motion protesting against any relaxation in fhe. regulations was carried uiiummouslv.