LIVESTOCK EMBARGO

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1935, Page 9

LIVESTOCK EMBARGO

PROHIBITION OF IMPORTS I FARMERS’ DECISIVE ACTION. k NORTH TARANAKI RESOLUTION. NEED FOR STRICT REGULATIONS. The conference of the North Taranaki Farmers’ Union yesterday took up a very decided attitude in connection with the embargo on the importation of ’ cattle from England. Not only did it defeat by a large majority a remit favouring the lifting of the embargo in order to facilitate reciprocal trade with Great Britain, but it went further and passed a resolution urging the complete prohibition of the importation of stock .to the Dominion and setting up a committee to go further into ways and means of tightening the regulations to prevent the disease being brought into the Dominion and taking steps to be prepared to cope with it should there be an outbreak. There were several remits dealing with the subject and considerable discussion ensued, mostly opposing the lifting of the embargo, as delegates, emphasised the importance of keeping New Zealand stock clean. A remit from Toko urging that the embargo against the importation of stock from Jersey Island be lifted and that such importations be made without going through the London quarantine station was first dealt with. Mr. L. Marfell said that the feeling at Toko was that Jersey Island, being a clean country, there would be no risk if such stock could be imported direct from the island without the necessity of going through the London quarantine station. That would considerably reduce the cost of importing Cattle. If the meeting favoured lifting the embargo altogether there would be .no need for the remit. Mr. Woods (Huiroa): There might even then be a risk. Mr. W. J. Freeth said that stock could be imported direct from Jersey Island, but it would cost £3O to load it on to the steamers in the Channel. In view of this Mr. Marfell asked leave to withdraw the remit. "We are at'-Britain’s throat all the time, asking her to take butter and cheese and yet we are putting all sorts of obstacles in her way in .regard to reciprocal trade. It does not affect dairy cattle so much as it affects the importation of beef cattle, sheep - and pigs,” remarked Mr. F. Stanley (Hillsborough) in moving a remit in favour of the lifting of the embargo in order to facilitate reciprocal trade with Britain. • INDIRECT IMPORTATION. Mr. J. A. -Paulger (Tikorangi), in seconding said that New-Zealand was the country farthest away from England, yet it was the only country that prohibited the importation of stock direct. Stock was imported, but indirectly. One only had to read the reports of pedigree cattle and pig sales to realise that. He held that ff stock was allowed to be imported direct there would be less risk of introducing foot and mouth disease than if importations were made indirectly. Britain was the only country that took drastic.measures to stamp out the disease. There was far greater danger of introducing the disease from other countries and by other- means -than stock. Indeed, the disease was rampant in India, from which place it was only a hop, step and jump to the Dominion by aeroplane. He • would not go into the question whether the importation of stock was necessary but Re held that it would be far safer to import direct. Mr. Freeth said his branch had decided that the regulation should be kept in force as New Zealand was a clean country. It exported 4000 head of stock as against 242 head that went through the quarantine station in England. New Zealand must not jeopardise that trade. Jersey Island was situated midway between the Continent and England; where foot and mouth disease was rife, and it was only by rigidly prohibiting the importation of stock, for a period of oyer 200 yeafs that the island had been kept clean. . . 1 Mr. A. A. Piper read a paper giving reasons why the embargo should be retained. ■ ’1 ’ '• ; 'i' Mr. Freeth held that 'if the embargo were ultimately lifted the farmers should demand that the Government give an assurance that in the event of. an outbreak the Government would definitely foot the bill. If the union got behind the lifting of the embargo as it had done with: such disastrous results behind dairy control; it would have to take the responsibility of an outbreak. Mr. Busing (Mangorei) definitely opposed the -lifting of the embargo. He had been assured by a Yorkshire Resident with experience of the ravages of the disease, he said, that if it once obtained a hold in. the Dominion it would be impossible to eradicate it, • Mr. Sorenson - reminded the conference that while scientists had not been able to find a cure for-the disease it had been reported that they, had segregated three types of virus and what would check one of them tfould not check another. . Mr. E. McCaw said that the provincial executive had passed a remit favouring the lifting of the embargo and the meeting did not want to pass what would amount to a vote of no-confidehce. Mr. Blyde agreed that the risk of importing indirectly was greater than the risk of direct importation. Importations could be made through Canada, and yet America had foot and mouth disease. In connection with the proposed special shipment special precautions would be taken and the provincial executive had informed the Minister of Agriculture of the remit passed at the provincial conference two years ago that there would be no objection to the lifting of the embargo on this occasion provided the department would assure them that it was in a position-to cope with. an. outbreak if there were one. Most authorities were of opinion that New Zealand was bound to have an outbreak of the disease sooner or later. A voice: Close the door to the importation of stock altogether. The chairman: I agree with you there. “ONE THING OR THE OTHER.” The Dominion should do either one thing or another —prohibit importation altogether or permit direct importation, said. Mr. Corry. He recognised -that as transport became more speedy the danger of the disease entering; would be greater, he added in moving an amendment to the effect that there be total prohibition of the importation of stock and that extra precautions be taken. Mr. M. P. Ford (Strathmore) in seconding the amendment strenuously opposed any relaxation of the regulations and urged that all regulations should be strictly tightened up. The chairman held that the amendment was a direct negative. ■ ’ Replying to the discussion on the ori-i ginal remit. Mr. Paulger said he - con-, sidered the permitting of direct importation instead of indirect would make the position safer. Australia, which allowed direct shipment, had not had an outbreak since 1872. Lord Bledisloe, one of Britain’s foremost farmers, had said there would be no danger if the embargo were lifted. New Zealand imported cattle from other countries but would? not import from its Mother Country, \which ' took

drastic steps to make the position safe for them. The remit was lost by a very large \ majority.. ... ♦ . Mr.’Marftjll then moved a remit from ■' Toko, strongly, opposing the lifting of the embargo and urging that strict precautions be taken against other ways of stock coming into New Zealand. He held that circus stock, despite the fact that there was a daily inspection, should not ■' be allowed to enter New Zealand. More- : I over, there was danger of the introduction of the disease through negligence in dealing /with straw packing. The president said the question had ' been taken up with, the Minister of Agri-' culture, who had assured them that ■ there were .very strictly enforced tions Which provided that all hay. or straw used for packing goods for the United Kingdom must' bjf sterilised and have a certificate to that effect sent' with the goods. Otherwise the packages were not allowed to be landed; There had ‘been cases where the goods had been < destroyed owing to breaches of Jha regulations. It was . also made compulsory that ship’s garbage must be destroyed. • -' Mr.‘ Corry then moved’- his previous x amendment that an embargo be put on .. the importation of all stock into New .f Zealand from any country, that a cbmmittee be set up to go into the question : of ways and means of the disease being brought into New Zealand and that jna- Z' chinerybe set up to cope with an ..outI break.' .i. ■ , Mr. Wood said that if the amendment yS were carried it could net be said that New Zealand was giving any advantage , to other countries that was not. being given to Britain. . : The amendment was carried. Z