THE CATTLE TICK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 158, 29 March 1919, Page 10

THE CATTLE TICK

A GROWING MENACE DISCUSSED. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston N., Match 28. Some rather ■'startling" information re-' lative to the spread of the cattle tick in New Zealand was given by Mr. Hel> enton at a meerjns of the Farmers' Union Provincial Executive. Mr. Hebenton said that there could bo •no possible doubt that the cattle tick •was spreading in New Zealand; and it was absolutely necessary that steps should be taken not only to prevent its spread,.'but the risk ,of .its further introduction Tjy the importation of cattle from infested countries. ■ It was thought that thero were some legal difficulties in the way of legislation which would deal effectively with the matter Mr. Hebenton wont on to-. point out that if the pest once got a hold in New •Zealand the position would' be serious. One : thing'was certain—that it would mean that farmers would have to dip their oattle three times a year. That would mean considerable expenso in the erection of dips, etc. Some areas id the north were already suffering from the pest in sufficiently virulent form lo call for their isolation. In tho interests of clean districts, drastic ■ action should be taken at once.

Several other speakers endorsed the statement of Mr. Hebenton, and on his motion the following resolution .was carTied: "That this executive of the Wellington Provincial District of the Farm, ers' Union request the Board of Agriculture to fully investigate the introduction of the cattle tick into this country, and to isolate those districts in > which it exists by getting legislation passed to prevent cattle being sent from those districts to other parte nf New Zealand."