BRITISH STOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 35, 10 February 1934, Page 9

BRITISH STOCK

DOMINION'S EMBARGO NEW ZEALAND HANDICAPPED COMMENT BY MR. FORBES [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Fob. 9. ” There is no doubt that our future lies along the lines of producing stock of the highest quality, ” said the Primo Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, when declaring the Royal Show officially open. ‘‘World competition is growing keener and our opponents are profiting by lessons learned from our organisation to improve theirs.” “It is therefore undoubtedly the duty of the leaders in our pastoral industry to bring about improvements and enable us to retain the markets we have,’’ said Air. Forbes. “Complacency spells retrogression. It is work being done by our royal shows and other show organisations which points the way to improvement.” Tho Prime Alinister said that when ho was in Britain in 1930, tho question of the importation by New Zealand of British stock was a burning one. British farmers asked him why New Zealand had put an embargo on their stock. They said they had done everything which scientific knowledge could dictate to prevent diseased stock leaving Britain. Other countries accepted their stock, yet New Zealand retained a very rigid embargo. In reply, said Air. Forbes, he had said that tho New Zealand farmeis were afraid of foot and mouth disease. He was shown the British quarantine station and saw the precautions being taken. He saw there stock destineu for Australia, and felt that Australia was gaining an advantage over New Zealand, for if the Dominion was to work for quality it must not neglect any means of bringing it about. He was assured in Britain that Australia was satisfied with the arrangements made. When New Zealand was endeavouring to obtain the goodwill of British farmers they should sec what they could do to dispel what was undoubtedly the feeling in Britain that the New Zealand attitude was unreasonable. It was a matter for tse farmers’ organisations to deal with, but he felt he must tell them that the feeling was growing in Britain that the Now Zealand embargo was an unfriendly act and was not done by the other Dominions. Tho matter had been mentioned to him when he was in Britain again last year.