Live-Stock Imports

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 1, 16 January 1937, Page 3

Live-Stock Imports

REGULATION PLAN Wellington Farmers' Union Proposals SOLUTION T0 PR0BLEM Proposals concerning the regulation of importations ofv live stock from countries infected with foot and mouth disease have been forwarded hy the Wellington central provincial executive of the New Zealand Faimers' Union to the Hawke's Bay hranch of the Farmers' Union. The covering letter from Mr K. M, Little, the secretary of the Wellington organisation states: "My executive desires to solicit your consideration of the attached proposals concerning the regulation of importations of live stock from countries infected with foot and mouth disease. In approaching this subject I am directed to ask that you will be good enough carefully to consider the several proposed regulationB in the light of prospective action by the Government to wmove any cause for complaint on the part of the English stud stock breeders against the attitude of New Zealand breeders to the importation of stock from England. "It is felt that in the trade negotiations now being conducted by the Hon. W. Nash in England, the question of the existing prohibition against direct ehipments of live stock from England wiU be raised and that the Minister of "Finance may be influenced towards taking steps to alter the position. My executive has approached the whole subject with the conviction that the existing arrangements for the importation of live stock from countries infected with the foot and mouth disease are far too haphazard as well as being .costly to the importer. It is considered that very desirable improvements can be effected without in any way endangering New Zealand, and it is believed that the accompanying proposals offer a practical solution to the problem. It is believed that they will not only reader iurther xemote the chnnces of the disease reaching these shores but they will also prove to the local breeder desiring to ixnport new blood, less costly, but thiSy will in addition remove any cause for complaint By the English breeder which the existing • condition provokea. "I would stress the fact that the proposals definitely aim at improving the position in so far as the importation of live stock from England is coneerned. They offer, it is believed, infinitely.more protection against the introduction of the disease to New Zealand, than do the existing regulations. Further, the proposals will make it cheaper for the local breeder to import and in addition he will have greatei protection in the matter of the quality as well as the constitutional soundness, of the stock he wishes to import. On this point it should be noted that it is Xnown that some of the live stock now being imported are far short of the high standard of quality New Zealand aima to maintain and the proposals submitted herewith embody clauses that will remove this evil. ''You are well aware of the attitude of English breeders towards New Zealand over the embargo against live stock from the Old Country. Even accepting half of what is reported as being true, we see that the yare very sore on the matter and therefore. anything the Earmers, Union here can do to reomve that cause for complaint will go a long way towards improving inter* Empire relationships. ' • The proposed regulations overcome this cause for complaint and meet, it is believed, all arguments for the preservation of our immunity from the disease. In short the regulations aim at tightening up the existing so-called embargo while at the same time aim at facilitating the importation of whatever live stock the country needs to maintain the high quality and standard of its stock. "For the guidance and information of all those who have been strenuously opposed to the removal of the so-called embargo, it should be known that the following veterinary surgeons, who have had experience of the foot and mouth disease and who are opposed to the lifting of the present regulations, have subscribed entirely to the attached proposals: Mr J. Hill-Mtion, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M., Mr W. Peirson, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S. "I should be glad if this matter could be treated as being urgent and that you will, in due course, notify ine of your approval, or otherwise. of the proposals. It is intended to place the proposals be'fore the Government immediately replies have been received from branches of the union and from breed societies.' *