DISEASED CATTLE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2305, 1 March 1930, Page 5

DISEASED CATTLE

PROVISION FOR COMPENSATION. SUGGESTED £s T SUEANCE SCHEME. The question of majdng provision for the compensation of buyers 'of diseased cattle where they are condemned under the requirements of the Health Department is a subject that has exercised attention and consideration for somo time, but up till the present no definite action has been taken.

/However, on Wednesday last when the Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, was at the Matamata Show, the opportunity was taken by Mr S. Lye, managing director of the Waikato. and Thames Valley Calf ByProducts Company, Ltd., to bring the matter before the notice of the Minister!

Mr Lye pointed out that with the recently extended operations of his company they were now dealing extensively with cull and .boner cattle, it wa/> only to expect that the percentage of diseased cattle in such classes was high, but the company or anyone who purchased cattle to go into the killing works as bonefs received no redress so far as animals condemned at the works by the department's inspectors are concerned. A similar state of affairs existed in connection with cattle purchased and intended for human consumption. The seller was protected because he got his cheque as usual, but there was no protection for the buyer. Mr Lye pointed out that if a. departmental inspector went into the paddock and condemned a beast as <Kseasod the farmer was compensated up to half the value of the animal. Mr Lye further expressed the opinion that the interests operating in cull and rolber cows were doing a good service to the individual farmer and to the country. By the elimination of "robber" cows the herds were improved and greater production was encouraged. It was particularly stressed that compensation should be allowed for bulls condemned for tuberculosis and cow? suffering from metritis. The latter was a disease of the genital, organs not discernible with the eye, and was only diagnosed when the beast was killed. It was mentioned that several cases in point had really been the means of bringing in the scheme recently adopted in Waikato to prevent the re-sale of cull cows. Mr Lye expressed the opinion that the time had arrived when some provision for compensation should be made and he made the suggestion to the Minister that it should be in the nature of an insurance scheme, whereby not only the seller, but the buyer and the department would be protected. Mr Lye suggested that the scheme might be contributed to by the seller and buyer, and supported by Government subsidy. He commended the proposal to the Government.

The Minister stated that the matter would have his careful consideration and he would also bring_ it before the notice of the Minister of Agriculture.