LIVE STOCK EMBARGO CRITICISED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 13

LIVE STOCK EMBARGO CRITICISED

English Farmer’s Comment / IMPORTATION OF FRESH BLOOD NEEDED “As a farmer and breeder of pedigree stock of 41 years’, experience in England I say that I have never seen foot-and-mouth disease in that country,” said Mr. Percy E. Bradstock, of Tree Town, Tarrington, Hereford, when referring yesterday to the embargo against the importation of live stock from Great Britain. Mr. Bradstock and his son have spent the past six weeks in New Zealand making themselves acquainted with farming methods in this country. They will leave Wellington by the Marama for Sydney to-day, and intend to stay a month in. Australia before returning Home.

In an interview with a representative ot “The Dominion,” Mr. Bradstock referred to a statement by Mr. T. L. Lancaster, of the Auckland University College Botany Department, published on Wednesday, urging the retention of the present embargo. “I was interested to read on my return to Wellington last night, after spending six weeks travelling by car through New Zealand studying farming methods and beef cattle in particular, the remarks made by Mr. Lancaster in connection with the dangers of foot-and-mouth disease,” said Mr. Bradstock. “I can assure Mr. Lancaster that with the precautions taken by the English Government, and the.use of the quarantine station, that stock go into before leaving that country, and the long sea voyage out here, the danger of bringing foot-and-mouth disease into this country through importing pedigree cattle from Englund is practically impossible.

“Mr.. Lancaster says ‘we have the finest stock in the world.’ If that is so, how is it that so many of the progressive and best stock breeders .in this country are, and have been, importing pedigree stock from America, and also in a few cases from England (the latter undv? very trying and expensive conditions) through Australia to improve their beef breeds, knowing full well, as I do, that if they want to get their share of the London market the beef breeds in this country must be improved? I have talked with a large number of farmers and breeders of stock in both the North and South Islands, and have never mentioned the snbiect of the embargo myself, but have always heard the same tale that they wished they could get fresh blood from the Old Country.

“Sout|i America,” said Mr. Bradstock, “has for years taken the best that money can buy from the Old Country,'and Australia the last three years has imported a considerable number from England. Why? To improve and maintain their beef breeds. I should like to ask Mr. Lancaster if he can tell me any country in the world that has ever at any time imported foot-and-mouth disease from England. New Zealand is ‘ a wonderful country for the breeding and feeding of beef cattle, hut when he says ‘that all that is required is breeding along the right lines’ I must say that fresh blood must be imported.”