FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1930, Page 14

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

ENGLAND NOW REPORTED FREE. • NO RELAXING N.Z. RESTRICTIONS. The United Kingdom is now reported free bf foot-and-mouth disease among cattle, and restrictions in that country have been lifted. At the meeting of the general committee of the Taranaki Agricultural Society yesterday Mr. W> B. Grant, a member of the Board of Agriculture, asked for an opinion whether the. restrictions on cattle importations to New Zealand should be lifted. It was unanimously decided that they should not. Mr. Grant said that the secretary of the-Board of Agriculture had written, that a cablegram from the High Commissioner dated July 15 notified that the United - Kingdom had been free of foot-and-mouth disease since December. Ail restrictions within the United Kingdom had been withdrawn as from January 14 and the British Government intended- shortly to issue a Press notice to-'this, effect. < Mr. Grant said this matter would be discussed, by the Board of Agriculture at-its next meeting. ' He would like the opinion of this society in the event of there being a suggestion that the restrictions on the importation of' cattle to New Zealand should be relaxed in view of the improvement in England. Mr. P. J. Petersen said they should leave matters as they were. There was no disease in New Zealand now, but once it came it would be here for all time. He moved that the society should oppose ' any relaxation of the restrictions. Mr. 11. Trimble seconded. He thought ?t would be most unwise to relax the restrictions. He considered they should be. tightened. There was no necessity to import these cattle either from England or America. If New Zealand eattle wore not- up to standard it was the fault of the breeders. The motion was carried.