THE CATTLE TICK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 190, 7 May 1919, Page 8

THE CATTLE TICK

' Sir,—Through the medium of your valuable paper I would like to lay stress oil the air of indifference in which the cattle tick is viewed by the Department 'of Agriculture. Having been a visitor to Queensland on more than ono occasion, I took tho opportunity of making careful investigation regarding the tick, and found its spreading viewod with grave concern. The Queensland Government has 'long ago despaired of ridding the country of the pest; the most it can do is to keep tho pest more or less in cheek under the most striugent ri.-'ula-tions.

Dr. Menkes, Director-Ge.neral of Agriculture, gavo an interesting scientific description of the different varieties of ticks in North America and other places at a meeting of the Board of Agriculture 011 April 23, but does not state that the "Boophilus Australis" of Queensland, and the "Ixodesliicinus" of New Zealand are identical, and as far as we. are concerned here, this does not matter, inasmuch as either variety acts as a carrier of tickfever. Di» Reakes assures us that the presence of these parasites in New Zealand does not constitute an' immediate menace in the form of causing or spreading tick-fever. Ido not agree with Dr. lieakes making such a sweeping statement. Why? Bocause it is the general belief in Queensland to-day that it only wants ticks to bo numerous enough fori tick-fever to break out in cattle without being carried there. No, one . can prove how the parasito 'started (here-first; but ticks wore present before tick-fever became manifest. Little wonder farmers ere becoming alarmed, and if the Agricultural Department does not very soon awake to its senso of duty in the matter. and enforce regulations without fear or favour,' the beef industry in New Zealand will supply more food for thought than food. Thanking you, -Mr.\Editor, fov having trespassed so pinch on your very valuahlo space,— am, etc., CATTLE FARMER. Mangaweka, May's, 1910. *