AEROPLANE DANGER

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 9

AEROPLANE DANGER

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE RISK. QUESTION OF STOCK EMBARGO. That in a direct aeroplane service between England and New Zealand there might be more danger of the introduction of foot and mouth disease into New Zealand than in the lifting of the embargo on the importation of stock was ihe opinion expressed by Hr. J. B. Carr at the annual meeting of the Okau-Ahi-titi-Tongaporutu branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. He pointed out that an aeroplane when taking off in England could run over land that was infected with foot and mouth disease, could pick up germs of the disease and on landing in New Zealand could drop those germs on the land virile and ready to infect stock. On the other hand stock that was imported had to be quarantined in England some time before being shipped, and also on arrival in New Zealand, so that including the length of time taken on the voyage, the chance of introducing the germ by that means was very remote, but at the same time must be strictly guarded against. Indeed, Mr. Carr understood that a high authority from England had issued warnings in New Zealand that unless restrictions were introduced in regard to the aeroplane services they would have epidemics in New Zealand that had never been known before.

The remark arose when Mr. S. Kenrick asked Mr. Morgan, provincial secretary of the Farmers’ Union, what was the position of the Farmers’ Union now in regard to the embargo on the importation of stock. Mr. Morgan said that the North Taranaki executive had passed a resolution that it would only agree to the lifting of the embargo on the importation of stock providing the Agricultural Department would give a definite assurance that it had every facility to cope with the disease adequately in the event of an outbreak. It was apparent that there was very strict quarantine both before the stock left England and after they arrived in New Zealand. However, if foot and mouth disease once got into New Zealand it would be very difficult to eradicate. Mr. S. Kenrick said that unless there were proper facilities for quarantine it would be advisable to keep the embargo. He had had experience of foot and mouth disease in England and realised what a disastrous matter it would be if the disease once got into New Zealand.