QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 8

QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.

'A SEVERE HANDICAP.

In ,the report of the Departmental Committee which was recently appointed to iiuiuirc into the British export trade in live stock there are certain statements and suggestions which should, says the Auckland "Herald," receive the consideration of our own Stock Department and of those officials who are responsible lor agricultural legislation in this country. It has to lie recognised first of all that any regulations which hinder the importation of .British stock into this country has an injurious effect on our greatest industries. We import various breeds of cattle from Great .Britain with the view of improving our herds, either in the way of - butter-fat production or beef yield, ahd wo import specially selected sheep to add to our wool clip or to better our frozen meat trade. The enterprising men who go to the trouble ami expense of introducing new animals into this country are public benefactors, and should be treated with the utmost consideration, and yet, judging by the manner in which stock regulations are framed, one would imagine they were criminals whose aim was to injure their fellows. Our quarantine laws for stock ore almost as drastic as our Asiatic Exclusion Acts, and a great deal more effective. The average voyage between Great Britain and New Zealand for vessels carrying stock is about 4(i day;. One would think that there was plenty of time during this voyage for any disease to manifest itself, but as an extra precaution our authorities demand that all imported stock should go into quarantine for another 40 days. Thus, if i\ farmer wishes to import a. valuable bull for the improvement of his herd, he not only has'to pay a hi','h price for it in the first instance, but he has to pay heavy freight, and keep it at his own expense and at las' own risk 8G days before lie can make any use of it. There can be no valid reason for such a severe handicap. It is quite reasonable, of course, that due precautions should be taken to prevent the introduction of diseased animals into this country, but surely if animals are examined before exportation and found to be healthy on arrival at this end there can be no need for a quarantine oi -HI days. The report of the British Departmental Committee dealing with this particular -question, rays •-''lt was agreed that in view of the stringent legislation in this country (Great Britain) and the duration of the voyage of about seven weeks, there is no necessity tor the detention of 10 days, which cattle, tor instance, must undergo on arrival. It appears that the Commonwealth Government has recently taken charge cit tins administrative service, which, under the new regulations, imposes the following periods of quarantine for aimna s from the United Kingdom: Horses, M days; cattle, -10 days; sheep, 30 days; and pigs, It days The veterinary representative of the Australian Government explained that the unequal period as between cattle and sheep is probably due to the old pleuropneumonia days, , but he admitted that the object of quarantine being to meet the duration of possible infection from various' diseases, the voyage is practically a period of isolation. . Tills is exactly ■" the point we desire to make and we 'would like to see some ovement made by our authorities in the direction of utilising the time of the voj«a " period of isolation, and correspondingly reducing the period of quarantine. A MENACE TO STOCK-BREEDING. *Auvthiiis which can reduce the expenses and troubles of the interohaiiso of h jr - cla,s stock between New /calami and nHii-r countries liui't be of enormous benefit U> iW Zealand. The Dominion s snceiallv fitted, by reason of its magnificent climate, to become the great stock-breeding .centre of the southern world.-Already >ew Zealand cattle, and sheep have found good markets in Australia, the Far East, in the Pacific Islands, and in Argentina, and there is likelv to be an ever-increasing demand for our best stock. It is difficult to estimate the monetary value ok our export trade in live animals at the present time, but it must amount to many thousands of pounds sterling per annum. -We can only produce exportable anima U by keepin" our own stock up to a high standard ami we can only keep up a high standard by the regular importation of fresh blood from abroad. This in itself should be a sulncient inducement to influence our legislators to so arrange .matters that the importation of stock becomes a simple and inexpensive matter. The present disabilities which our quarantine laws inflict upon our most enterprising tanners are a menace to the stock-breeding industry. Tt is commonly recognised that much more pedigree stock would be imported into New Zealand if the quarantine regulations were more convenient. It is absolutely right that this country should be protected against the introduction of disease, but we can lie quite easily protected without the present 40 days' detention, and it is the duty of our stock officials and of tho farmers' organisations throughout New Zealand to completely reorganise the present regulations. Itshould be remembered that, apart from the beneficial effect imported stock have on the breeding of high-class stock for export, I here is immense gain to bo obtained from our own flocks and herds through the introduction of new blood and special strains. . . , If the public only realised how much of tlleir prosperity depended upon the improvement of stock they would not permit our present quarantine regulations to remain in force another hour, and they would probably demand that the State subsidised the importation of acknowledged valuable animals. Considering the enormous expense and trouble Incidental to the purchase of pedigree stock in Great Britain or other distant countries, the marvel is that so inanv men can be found to risk their capital and devote their time to this enterprise It only goes to show that the real fariuei is much more than a mere money-maker he takes pride in his work, and find.' pleasure in the art of stock-breedina.