FOOT-AND-MOUTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 191, 14 August 1931, Page 9

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

THE DISEASE AT HOME EFFECT ON ROYAL SHOW MANY FURTHER OUTBREAKS There is general satisfaction expressed by farmers in the Wanganui district at the decisiou of the Government to continue tho embargo on live stock imported into the Dominion. The danger from foot-and-mouth dis case ia still extremely great, and the concensus of opinion holds that the Government would be lacking in its duty if it were to disregard the ■warnings of the dread scourge in the Old Country. Mr A. P. Melville, chairman of the Fordell branch of the Farmers’ Union, has staunchly advocated continuity of the embargo, and produced a copy of the Scotsman of June 22 last to substantiate his opinion. “It would be a terrible thing if this disease once got into the country,” he said to a “Chronicle” reporter, and then quoted extracts from the Home paper which, under glaring, doublecolumn head-lines of “More Foot-aud-Mouth in Scotlaud”; “further cases in Ulster,” had the following to say:— “Further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland have been comirmed during the week-bnd, and sev oral hundred cattle have been slaughtered. Cases were confirmed on Saturday on three farms in Fife, on a farm at Inchture, Perthshire, near Dundee, and ou a farm at Johnshaven, Kincardineshire. A case notified at Baldowrie, Kettins, Angus, has yet to be confirmed. In every case, it is understood, the animals affected are Irish store cattle. It is reported that five further outbreaks have been confirmed in the Downpatrick area of County Down, making 10 in all. “Ono case has been confirmed and another notified on farms near Carlisle. The cattle affected reached Carlisle from Ireland via Ayr on June 13. The case suspected at Prestonhall, Ford, Midlothian, has not been confirmed. The directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society have decided to go on with the hundredth Show at Edinburgh this week, and arrangements are being made to provide other attractions to compensate for the absence of cattle, sheep, and pigs. The Prince of Wales, who is president of the Society, is to fulfil his engagement to visit the Show on Thursday. Three Cases on Farms in Fife. “Cases of foot-aiid-mouth disease were on Saturday confirmed by the Ministry’s veterinary surgeons at the Mount Farm, near Cupar (Mr John Small), Gospetry, Mawcarse (Mrs Clark), and Invertiel, Kirkcaldy (Mrs Miller). Yesterday, well over a hun dred cattle and sheep were slaughtered. Suspected cases at Holckettle Farm, Kingskettle, and Easter ami Wester Kinnear, Worinit, were not confirmed. The arrangements for the Fife Agricultural Show, to be held on July 18, are meantime being held up. Disease Notified in Angus. “The whole country of Angus, including the burghs of Dundee, Arbroath, Montrose, Forfar, Brechin, Kirriemuir, Carnoustie, and Monifieth have been declared an affected area, foot-and-mouth disease having been confirmed in. the following places: —Kirkton of Benholm, Johnshaven Kincardineshire; and Whitehills, Abernytc, Inchture, Perthshire. The disease has also been notified at Baldowrie Farm, Kettins Angus, but has yet to be confirmed by the Ministry officials. In every case the animals affected are Irish store cattle. Midlothian Case Not Confirmed. “The case of foot-and-mouth disease, which was suspected at tho farm of 1 icstonhall, Ford, Midlothian, has not been confirmed. Animals may now be moved under licence for slaughter. In Cumberland. An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at Houghton, two and a-half miles north of Carlisle amongst Irish cattle which came through the Ayr lairage and were sold at Carlisle Irish mart on Saturday week. Ono beast showed definite signs of the disease, but ten are involved and will be slaughtered. Another case was notified yesterday at Baldwinholme, where five cattle are involved. These were from the same consignment. Baldwinholme is two miles West of Carlisle, and in consequence markets at Carlisle and Wigton and Brampton will not be held. More Cases in County Down.

Many Animals Slaughtered. Tho Ulster Ministry of Agriculture announced last night that five further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed, making ten in all in the Downpatrick area. Already 120 and 240 sllee P have been slaughtOur Belfast correspondent telegraphed yesterday morning;— The veterinary staff of Northern Ireland Government who are examining all the cattle over a wide area in County Down, discovered three suspected outbreaks on Saturday and three yesterday. Two of these have been confirmed. All are between tho original outbreak at Downpatrick and the sea, and consequently will not entail any cxtension of the standstill order. Over 250 animals were slaughtered on Saturday, and many more will be destroyed in consequence of the new out breaks. Every unemployed man in Downpatrick has been commandeered to help in digging graves for the carcases, which arc buried in quicklime. Newtonards Show, which was fixed for Saturday, was forbidden by the -Ministry. Many exhibitors were put to great inconvenience and expense in consequence of news of the embargo not reaching them until live stock implements, etc., had already been despatched to the showground. It is probable that Ballynahineh and tho other County (Down shows will also bo prohinted, but unless there is an unexpected extension of the area of infection other Lister shows will be permitted. Edinburgh Corporation’s Action. t r A uv l 7 l Cial meotin « o f the Public Health Committee of Edinburgh Town Council will be held this forenoon for the purpose of considering (1) the Order of Ministry of Agriculture and

Fisheries relating to Foot-and-Mouth disease, and (2) tho licensing of sale of fat stock at Gorgie Markets to-mor-row. The Highland Show. Directors’ Decisiou to Go Un. “The hundredth show of the High land and Agricultural Society is, as we announced ou Saturday, to be held this week in Edinburgh. That decision was definitely made by the directors of the Society at a specially summoned emergency meeting, which was held in tho showground at Saughtou Park on Saturd forenoon. Air J. E. Kerr of Harviestoun, Dollar, presided, and there was a large attendance from all parts of tho country, including Air Robert Park, Brunstane, Portobello, the convener of the Shows Committee. The proceedings were in private, and at the close the secretary, Mr John Stirton, intimated that tho directors had unanimously decided that the show should bo held. “Though it will be deprived of the exhibits of cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats—animals which are susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease—there will still be a good representation of live stock. Horses and ponies, poultry, and lur-pro-ducing rabbits will make au attractive exhibition, and more attention will naturally bo devoted to these classes than usual. It has been frequently complained that so many sections of live stock were judged at the same time in rings so far apart that it was difficult for those interested in two or three classes of stock to follow satisfactorily the placings of he judges. Though the reason for it is extremely unfortunate, they will have on this occasion opportunity on Tuesday to devote undivided attention, for example, to Clydesdale horses, and to compare them later on in the afternoon with the merits of the other breeds of draught horses from England—the Shires and the Suffolks.” King’s Exhibits Not Forward. I-he cancellation of the various classes of stock embraced in the Ministry’s Order affects 635 cattle, the largest entry in the history of the Society; 684 sheep, a hundred more than at the great show of sheep at Kelso in 1926; 47 goats, and 117 pigs. His Majesty tho King had no fewer than seven cattle entered—two Shorthorns from the Royal farm at Windsor, and five Red Polls .from the Sandringham herd. Fortunately they were not entrained before the ban on their exhibition was issued, but some of His Majesty 's subjects in the outlying parts of North-Eastern Scotland had sent their animals forward. It was at one time feared that they would be held up, but they are to be returned to their farms under the necessary licences, and will be entrained from Edinburgh this morning. Others had their cattle on the railway trucks and removed them home, while a few waggons of cattle foi the Show actually reached Edinburgh but were returned immediately without unloading. The rail charges will mean a considerable loss to those exhibitors whose cattle were in transit. ’ ,