EMBARGO ON STOCK

Southland Times, Issue 22073, 21 July 1933, Page 8

EMBARGO ON STOCK

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.

DAMAGE FEARED BY FARMERS.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at the Dominion Conference last week, called on the Government to maintain the embargo against the importation of animals from countries subject to foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr D. B. Higgins (Matamata), on behalf of Auckland, moved a remit affirming that it was desirable that the embargo against direct importation of animals from Great Britain and other countries subject to foot-and-mouth disease should be strictly maintained. He said that if the present regulations were carried out there would be no danger, but there were many influences at work endeavouring to have the embargo lifted. If foot-and-mouth disease once obtained a footing in the Dominion it could never be stamped out. Mr J. Livingstone (Dannevirke) opposed the remit, remarking that New Zealand breeders wanted new blood, and the Dominion should do as much trade with Britain as possible. Mr J. E. Benson (Poverty Bay) warned farmers not to play with fire. There was nothing wrong with New Zealand’s flocks and herds to-day, and every effort should be made to keep them free from disease.

Mr D. Dickie (Southland) said that Britain maintained an embargo on stock from countries which had foot-and-mouth disease, and this should be a good enough lead for the Dominion. Mr Higgins said that swine fever had been introduced into the Dominion through a farmer being permitted to buy the straw off a steamer which had arrived from overseas. In England farmers were compensated for all stock destroyed, with the result that they could make another start in a few years’ time. In New Zealand if a beast had to be destroyed he was paid £l.

The remit was carried almost unanimously.