STOCK EMBARGO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 126, 30 May 1935, Page 8

STOCK EMBARGO

REMITS BEFORE CONFERENCE WANGANUI FARMERS’ VIEWS e DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS. t c Several farmers from the Wanganui district .participated in an interesting !1 discussion at Palmerston North on ■' Monday when a remit relative to the stock embargo question was before the V interprovincial conference of the New *' Zealand Fanners’ Union. The discus- - sion was a very lengthy one and - touched many important aspects of the t problem. r Three remits against the lifting of r- the embargo wore presented, but it was l- decided to drop two in favour of the r third, which was moved by Waimariuo - branch and read as follows: Y "That this meeting views with alarm . the action at present on foot to re- _[ move the embargo on stock arriving r direct into New Zealand from couny tries affected with foot and mouth disj ease, and voices its strong opposition v to any such move to endanger the stock of this country.” ll New Restrictions Severe. b Mr. G. L. Marshall (Marton) moved as an amendment that the conference accept the new code of restrictions put forward by the department which, he e thought, were more severe than the exf isting protection. At Mr. Marshall’s request the proposed precautionary measures were read out to the confere ence. 8 The chairman said he could not accept the amendment as it was a direct - negative to the motion. Mr. Marshal] contended that fresh blood was needed in New Zealand, and 1 ‘ he instanced the Southdown breed or 0 sheep. Mr. L. Hammond (Hunterville) said he was amazed at the lack of knowledge shown by those who objected to the lifting of the embargo. Stock was t still coming to New Zealand by roundabout ways and the new scheme presented by the Minister was an endeavour to tighten up the existing ’ state of affairs. Was it not better to have the importations under proper control—in one boat under a veterinn ary surgeon? The regulations were to s go further. The necessary fodder was r ' to go from New Zealand. The point at issue was: Was the conference going to turn down efforts to keep a pro- - per check on imports? If the confers ence wanted to decide on something f definite, it should pass a resolution a against the importation of any overe seas stock at all. The danger, how,l ever lay not in the stock, but through i- packing and straw. The speaker urged the conference to put on their thinking caps and not just get panicky. Wool-packs from India.? Mr. A. P. Melville (Wanganui) said 4 it was purely fear that caused the 2 farmers to insist on the embargo being ’ endured. This attitude was against all scientific reason and advice. He did not minimise the ugliness of the dise ease, but felt it would come to New Zealand by other means rather than through stock. What about wool-packs , s from India, where the disease was ’ epidemic? Here was a grave risk. The r proposed regulations were exceedingly e strict and New Zealand was doing the 8 wrong thing by playing safe. s Mr. Howie (Wanganui) said he was ■* against the lifting of the embargo perr ‘ sonally but the instructions from his d branch were that he must vote for it. (Laughter.) He instanced the Island of Jersey, which had no disease and ■f had not imported stock for 100 years ,t and more. Nor had it gone to" the y island on people ’3 boots or packing, h L . Amendment Lost. k Mr. E. B. Gordon (Marton) said the remit did not give voice to the desires of those who wanted to see the regula- *’ tions tightened. He would therefore 11 move as an amendment: “That the ‘ conference is against any easing of the e regulations in the matter of stock ime portations, but agrees that the proposed new regulations will be preferable to the present back-door methods e via Australia.” s Mr. E. D. Simpson (Hunterville) ■ seconded. e The amendment was lost by 33—43. s The remit was lost on the voices, but a show of hands was demanded and the count was 49 for, 22 against. u t SHIPOWNERS’ OPINIONS .- s f MORE RIGID ENFORCEMENT. a y [ Per Press Association. 1 0 CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. s The executive of the Canterbury 1 Sheepowners’ Union carried unanimously the following resolution: “That I in view of the serious situation which k has developed with outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in England, this , executive is of opinion that the restrictions on the importation of stock from j Britain should be more rigidly enforced. ’ ’