“GREAT MISTAKE BY NEW ZEALAND.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 8

“GREAT MISTAKE BY NEW ZEALAND.”

Although Ministries come and Ministries go, it is deeply significant that tlie embargo on the importation of stock from Britain that was imposed in New Zealand many years ago, seems likely to go on until some courageous veterinary experts make a move that will justify the Government in taking action. For many years, the strongest criticism has been levelled against New Zealand's policy in relation to the importation of stud stock. It is admitted, of course, that the greatest precautions should be taken against all chances of devastating animal diseases being brought into New Zealand, but since the alternative to existing arrangements is not the free entry of stock without restrictions, but the enforcement of adequate quarantine precautions, backed by the most careful selection of stock prior to shipment, there remains little to be said in favour of the continuance of an embargo, which is not only yielding detrimental results, but is also causing very general annoyance to the leaders in stock-breeding in the Homeland, ft is not surprising then that the visit of New Zealand and South African farmers to England should have been seized upon by the leaders of the party to say something on the existing condition. Regret was expressed, we are told, that the New Zealand embargo on stock from Great Britain should not have been lifted: “I think it is a great mistake that New Zealand is not opening her doors to cattle from England,” said Mr G. B. Dermen, leader of the party. “Many people at home are adopting the wrong attitude. Our party hopes to inspect the quarantine station here and gather vital Information concerning the question of removing the ban.”

Not very much attention would have to be taken of the frequent discussions of this question, if New Zealand could live within herself. The fact that already this season in New Zealand, 8,933,473 lambs have been killed for export, together with 956,574 wethers, and 783,093 ewes, 297,000 cattle and 658,000 pigs, ought to suggest to the authorities that the future of the meat export business does not repose in the capacity of this country to produce large quantities of meat for export. The future of the primary industry, which includes not only meat but 'the production of £15,000,000 worth of wool and a dairy cheque approaching the ten million mark, is wholly bound up in the quality of the country's products. Because New Zealand is a producing country, the importance of improving the strains of all classes of stock is too obvious to require discussion. This is recognised by all who take an interest in the country’s primary industry; indeed, some of the most experienced breeders, both in X'ew Zealand and in the Homeland, have repeatedly warned the Government that it is rendering a positive disservice to the country by the continuance of the embargo. No less an authority not only on all phases of agriculture, but also on New Zealand requirements as a producing country, than Viscount Bledisloe, has repeatedly insisted that New Zealand is really out of date in the attitude that is taken to the importation of stud stock. Inevitably the Government will be compelled to face up to this question and it would certainly assist immensely in hastening the lifting of the embargo, if veterinary experts associated with the Department would [iay some attention to the views of the experienced breeders, and then make the necessary recommendations that would pave the way for New Zealand to remove the cause of so much criticism of the policy of this country in relation to the importation of stud stock.