ALSATIAN DOGS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1933, Page 5

ALSATIAN DOGS

EMBARGO ON IMPORT. DISCUSSION IN AUSTRALIA. The opinion that the Alsatian dog might become a menace in Australia was expressed by the Minister of Customs, Mr. White, in Melbourne, when he recently received a deputation from the Alsatian Defence League. The embargo on the importation of Alsatian dogs was imposed by the Commonwealth Government in 1929 for five years, and the deputation asked that it should not be continued beyond May of next year when the term expires. Tire president of the league, Mr. C. J. Miller, said that exaggerated statements had been made about the Alsatian.

dog as a "sheep-killer.” The Alsatian, he said, was no worse in this respect than any other dog. There was no embargo on the importation of Alsatian dogs into England, and in Germany they were used as sheep dogs. The Minister said that strong protests against the importation of Alsatians had been received from the Graziers’ Federal Council. Western Australia had gone further than the Commonwealth Government and had passed legislation with a di

view to the gradual extinction of Alsatian dogs. He would assure the deputation that the Federal Cabinet would give consideration to its views before the expiration of the present embargo. Mr. White added that there was a doubt about the nature of Alsatian dogs. Further, Alsatians had little or no economic value. Alsatians might become a menace in Australia. For these reasons his personal opinion was that the embargo should bo contiflugd. '