FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 April 1935, Page 5

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

OUTBREAK IN ENGLAND.

LONDON, Wednesday. Shortly after opening the fortnightly market' at Sturminster Newton, foot-and-mouth, disease was detected on Mitchell brothers’ farm at Shroton. The Department of Agriculture ordered the stock to remain in the market, and the auction proceeded -uptil a subsequent order decreed the slaughtering and- burning of every animal. An inspector ordered sixty tons of coal, and engaged, a. builder. t. 0.. employ fifty men to dig trenches in an adjoining paddock. ; .... •••’■. h-

Slaughtering began early to-day, and continued with a succession of humanekiller .shots, until, late afternoon, when the pens were filled with huge heaps of carcasses to the number of two thousand.

Movements of cattle have been £©* stricted over an area of 707 square miles for a period of 28 days.

DR. REAKES’S COMMENT.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday.

Referring to the foot and mouth disease cable message, Dr. S. J. Reakes, Director of Agriculture, said: "I have so far no official information regarding the matter, but the wording of the press message seems to make it clear that what happened wa.s that . coincident with the holding of a. large stock sale, foot and mouth disease was not. discovered on a farm somewhere adjacent. Nothing is mentioned of any of the animals at the sale being found affected, and on the information, available, the action of the British Department of Agriculture can be regarded as an example of the very thorough, methods employed in combating the risk of the spread of the disease in England. Presumably the- assumption was that thev nearness of the affected farm created a possibility of infection having- directly or indirectly reached stock at the sale, which, if they were sold, would be distributed to, a number of farms afterward. Therefore, the drastic action of killing and completely destroying the whole of these animals was adopted as a safety measure. Jit-affords a good illustration of the thoroughness of the methods of the British authorities, and it should serve to create further confidence in the very definite contention that, with co-operation between the British and New Zealand authorities, and with the fullest precautions, including quarantine before shipment, British live stock can be imported without risk of foot-and-mouth disease.”— (P.A.)