RINDERPEST CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1923, Page 5

RINDERPEST CAMPAIGN.

SOME DISSATISFACTION. SLAUGHTER OF CATTLE. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Perth. Dec. 27. Dairymen, fruit and vegetable growers in the rinderpest quarantined area are up in arms owing to the strict enforcement of the regulations. The pul>iic are also somewhat sore as the result of shortened supplies of milk, fruit and vegetables. Sjme dairymen, in spite of the definite- official pronouncement that the disease is rinderpest, are not satisfied and claim that the disease is caused by a genu causing waiting in cattle, but that it is not the dread disease- They also complain at the wholesale destruction of cattle without previously trying less stringent methods. Cruelty in slaughtering the cattle is alleged. It is stated that in one case three hundred rounds of ammunition were fired to kill forty cows.

Some slaughtering parties who visited and destroyed all cattle within a mile radius of the scene of the outbreak to make a 'buffer between the infected cattle and clean areas were given lively times, as well as those confiscating fruit and vegetables in the prescribed areas. Angry crowds of settlers demon tsrated against the invaders, who leave behind tnem smouldering carcases in place of flourishing dairies. The demands for compensation are likely to be strongly pressed. Melbourne, Dec. 27. The Commonwealth Government has decided that the amount of rinderpest compensation ehall be borne equally by the Commonwealth and Westralian Governments.