Injustices In Hydatid Scheme

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 21

Injustices In Hydatid Scheme

The fight against "injustices” in the hydatid eradication campaign had met with “a measure of success” in the last year, the New Zealand Dog Owners' Defence was told on Tuesday evening. It was the league’s first annual meeting. Twenty-nine attended. The chairman of the league's committee (Mr L. N. M. Morine) said much remained to be done before the campaign could be fair or efficient. "What is the use of dosing the almost completely hydatid-free city dogs when if all energies were directed to stamping out the trouble in the country, where it starts and should finish, the few cases in the towns would soon clear up once the possibility of reinfection was removed.'’ Mr Morine said. The league had spent much time tracking down and trying to educate the “guilty persons,” he said. He, personally, had taken photographs of dead sheep and tape-recorded the facts as reported by farmers and farm workers. After the league showed photographs to various councils, one hydatid control officer made an aerial inspection of farms.” he said. “His findings of dead sheep supported our contention that there is plenty of real work to be done in cleaning uo these dirty farm areas. We have asked the right to inspect these farms and make reports, but our offer was turned down. “We are wholeheartedly behind the eradication of hydatids, but strongly condemn the methods adopted, which we consider are not only futile, but which could possibly spread this disease whilst the cause remains unchecked.” Mr Morine said as the law stood, police had no power to act if they received complaints about the feeding of raw offal to dogs or leaving dead sheep lying around.

Asked after the meeting to clarify this, Mr Morine said It was because the offences were not criminal. Action could be taken by hydatid control officers, he added. The league decided to omit the word “defence” from its name. It was suggested that it could broaden the range of its activities.

During the year, £l3 15s of the league’s funds were used to aid members. One grant was given to a pensioner who claimed she found it difficult to pay hydatid and registration fees for her four Sidney Silkies. She said in a letter that she had paid a veterinary surgeon to dose the dogs "sooner than risk the lives of my wee pals in the hands of the council inspector.” The league’s president (Mr S G. Isherwood) was reelected. Other officers elected were:—

Vice-presidents, Mr L. N. M. Morine, Mrs J. L. Mansel; secretary. G. G. Clarke; committee: Mrs K. Holland, Mr T. Kirk. Mrs G. B. Upjohn. Mr J. M. Tod, Mrs D. Hargreaves, Miss F. Jordan, Mrs J. F. Kinghorn.