THE CATTLE TICK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 8

THE CATTLE TICK

Fir—The most serious menace which has ever threatened- tho pastoral industry in New Zealand is ljeinjj treated by the Department of Agriculture in a most careless and inefficient manner. Soino twelve months ago an officer of the Department, after visiting North Auckland, reported that tho post was not the real cattle tick which causes so much loss in Queensland and other parts. Wo are now informed that it is. and that the Minister has authorised tho construction of cattle dips, carefully limiting the expenditure on same to JEISO. If the cattle tick once spreads throughout the Dominion a million pounds per annum will not cover tho loss to pnstornlists. Wo are now told by probably the same officer who first reported on the pest Hv.it it cannot ho restricted to localities. Hnvin" had considerable experience ot tho cuttle tick in Queensland, allow ino to say this statement is about as reliable as the Department's first report on tho nest. Is it becauso tho officers of tho Agricultural Department were afraid in the first instance to declare Ijorfh Aucklanl an infected area that the pest has been allowed to spread?. It is high time tho farmers of tho Dominion realised the roal seriousness of the position. It is flso Muli time tho Department of Agriculture awoke to the fact that it has a real urcblem to tacklo resolutely. Every district in whicb tho cattlo. tick has appearcil should at once be isolated and post stamped out. The theory about tho ick being spread by birds, etc.,- is moonstoo. An isolated instance may have been reported, hut ninety-nine per cent of tho infection is caused by ton-tact.-lam.etc, HBBEFOED , Napier, April 2, 1(119.