Thames Star. THURSDAY, JULY, 13, 1922. TICK MENACE.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15611, 13 July 1922, Page 4

Thames Star. THURSDAY, JULY, 13, 1922. TICK MENACE.

!T'he necessity for a cattle dip at Tapu will not be denied by anyone who has studied the position. If the djp is placed there, instead of at the Mata as originally proposed, it will enable the graziers and others on the eastern side of the peninsula to bring their cattle over the CoroglenTapu track which is the boundary f. between the two defined areas, dip them at Tapu and then drive them into the Thames Valley. If the dip were at Mata then the graziers would not be able to follow that route and would be put to much inconvenience. As far as the tick menace is concerned the interests of the unaffected local bodies lie chiefly in preventing the spread of the pest. And, for that purpose, dips at the appointed crossing places are absolutely necessary. The local bodies in the areas known as “A,” are concerned with the provision of boundary dips to permit of stock transactions with outside districts being allowed, and with dips at convenient spots within the infected area to enable the fight against the infection to be waged successfully. The desire of the Thames Couaty Council to take immediate steps to secure the erection of a dip is a reasonable one. It may, in the long run, prove by far the most economical course that could be pursued. Prevention may not only be better than cure, but also very much cheaper. A dip on the boundary will not cost as much as dips at convenient places with'in the county which would be absolutely necessary if the tick ever became established here. And it is because of the need to prevent the pest spreading that the Thames County Council can reasonably ask for the financial assistance of neighbouring counties. A few hundreds spent now in dips at the crossing places may obviate the necessity for the expenditure of three times that sum should the matter be i neglected.