BRITAIN REDUCING ANIMAL DISEASES

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1947, Page 7

BRITAIN REDUCING ANIMAL DISEASES

WELLINGTON, Mar. 13. Lord Bledisloe, inunediate past president of the Royal Agrieultural Society oi England. met and addressed members of the Royal Agrieultural Society of New Zealand in Wellington today. lle said the 'society in England might still be able. tdK/tencli those overseas, but she had asv" liiiiftii to learn from them, and it- was to 't'ompare notes that he had eoiue upon his mission. Thc society was reducing, if not eliminat-' ing, serious animal diseases, particularly in cattle. Chief among these in England were tuberculosis, mastitis, j coutagious abortion and sterilify. It ! was hoped to extend the areas in whicli j it could be said there were herds clear of tuberculosis. It was planned, too to create life peacetime interest in the county eomnuttees . which had been operatingv.in the war years and whicli would continue to djrect, though not to control, activities throughout England and Wales. Another matter which the Royal Agrieultural Society was turning a great deal of energy to was the promotion of young farniers' clubs. The society had also done work 011 the establishment of a register of pedigree stock. Rcferring to the lifting of the New Zealand euibargo 011 the direct import of stock froni Britain, Lord Bledisloe said membcrs would all lcrioiv that there was not the faintest chancc of foot and mouth dtsease, if it should break out in Britain, teaching New Zealand. The period of latency of the disease was only 12 to 14 days at most. There was a real nded for the import of fresli blood into- tffe livestoek o'f thi--country. The reduced cost involvet! now in bringing stock direct from Britain would prove mii encouragemerit