A NATIONAL DANGER

Wairarapa Age, 31 May 1928, Page 5

A NATIONAL DANGER

Mr W. G._Belton (Wanganui) reported that he had learned that a certain animal was recently imported from Home to New Plymouth and that an officer of the ship sold at a nominal figure a quantity of oats and hay left over. This fodder may have been infected. The matter was altogether too .serious to permit any relaxation of the existing regulations. “That certainly was a very alarming statement made by Mr. Belton,’’ said Mr. K. Dalrymple, “and should be noted.’’ It was breeders in England whose stock was free from disease who were moving for the establishment of a quarantine station. Pressure was being brought to bear in certain quarters to relax the regulations, and the conference should show the Government that it was behind it in the enforcement of the regulations. Mr. G. McGregor (Wanganui) considered tlißß remit the most important before the conference. He had noticed, her said, that certain breeders in New Zealand were attempting to influence the Government in the direction of permitting stock to be imported. It would I mean national bankruptcy for New Zealand if one case- occurred and every effort should be made to prevent the importation of, stock, notwithstanding the desire of certain breeders to import new blood to build up their flocks. The prevention of the introduction of the I disease into New Zealand was of 1 great - | er national importance. Mr. J. Gordon Elliott, M.P., said he had asked a question in the Hous* of the Minister of Agriculture as to whether the Government would allow under certain conditions, the importation of stud stock. A report by Dr. Reakes on his investigations abroad satisfied the Minister that no stock should be allowed to be imported from infected countries. The remit was carried unanimously. —

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE RESTRICTIONS. I FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE RESOLUTION. MAINTENANCE OF PROHIBITION URGED. <“The Age” Special.—By Telegraph.) PALMERSTON NORTH, May 30. “That in view of the importance to the Dominion of dairying and the cattle industry generally, the Government and Agricultural Department be again asked to take all possible precautions to prevent the introduction of foot and mouth disease.” The foregoing remit, which was carried at the InterProvincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union in Feilding to-day, was prompted by the fear that success may attend the efforts that are being made both in New Zealand and at Home to relaix the restricr- tions prohibiting the importation of live stock from countries in which the disease is prevalent. Mr. T. Currie (president of the Wanganui executive) who moved the remit, said he did not wish to reflect on the good work of the Agricultural Department in keeping the disease out of New Zealand. The Department deserved every credit for what it was doing. JElowever, he noticed a movement at Home to establish quarantine stations, presumably with a desire to export stock. The disease was prevalent in Britain and the export of stock was , prohibited. The disease was also* prevalent in the Argentine, where an army of inspectors had been appointed to examine all cattle two days before they left a station for any works. It was possible for the disease to develop immediately after inspection. A beast passed as clean might be infected shortly afterwards. It had been proved that the virus of the disease remained active in the marrow of t the bones for sixty days, and that it would live in straw *or hay for f&ir or five months. Tf it was intended that stock should be- imported, this remit would show that the Union was behind the Government in measures to check the spread of the disease.