FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 37, 6 November 1937, Page 10

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

i Our Own Correspondent.)

- 9 Friesian Breeders Oppose c Lifting of Embargo FEARS EXPRESSED

(From

PALMERSTON N., This Day. Friesian cattle breeders stood out yesterday in opposing the proposal that the embargo against the direct importation of live stock from countries affected with the foot and mouth disease, be lifted. Reporting to a meeting of the Friesian Cattle Breeders' Association Mr. H. E. Johnson, president, stated that at a meeting of live stock breeders held that morning a resolution had been carried favouring an appeal to the Government to remove tho embargo. The meeting had listened with interest to the remarks of Mr. C. G. C. Dermer, of Feilding, who had recently xeturned from an extended visit to the Old ,Country and this breeder had ■ stated that there waseno thing to fear in face ;of the elaborate safeguards at the Engilish quarantino station. "I opposed ithe resolution as you breeders have always opposed any interference with the embargo," said Mr. Johnson, "but ' the resolution was carried." *Mr. Johnson went on to say that there appeared to b'e a definite swing in favour of the lifting of the embargo. Sheep breed 'societies appeared to be favouring the idea of direct shipments of stock from England. The cost of importing under existing conditiona was altogether prohibitive. Mr. R; A. Wilson (Bulls) considered that the meeting should pass a resolution favouring the lifting of the embargo not from the point of view of importing cattle but with the object of removing any cause for giving offence to tho British public. "If we persist in our present attitude we -are likely to create bad feeling against us" said Mr. Wilson. "If we had an outbreak in this country, what would it cost us?" asked Mr. McGowan. -I do not think there is any danger under the. existing quarantine restrictions," replied Mr. Wilson. If breeders continued to oppose the lifting o the embargo, England, the only buyer. of our produce, must feel that New jZealand is discriminating against her. Mr. H. Marchant disagreed- that it, was a ease of discrimination. "Probably no country in the world is so utterly dependent on primary production as _ New Zealand and it would be very hard to survive an outbreak of the disease if oue took place. Is it any- wonder-, then that we.are so nervous? I suggest that those people who have goiie Home

anfl aiscussed this question Eave failed to make clear the views in ' support of the attitude we have taken up. An outbreak in England is a matter of minor importance in the national ecouomy of the country but here it is entirely different. Apart from her farming England has enormous industrial resources to fall back upon and I suggest that some of those who have visited England should have made that point plain and emphasised New Zealand 's peeuliar position." Mr. Marchant went on to suggest that considerable danger i'rom infection lay in the rapid air transport of to-day. , It was possible for a dplane to depart from an infected country and carry the disease to Australia and even on to New Zealand. He considered that this gspect of the question required close watching ' hnd' suggested that the Government should set up an einergency organisation to meet any such position when the through air-travel service was put into operation. "I feel certain, that sooner or later, we are going to get it" said Mr. Marchant, "and we should he m a position with an organisation ready to deal with it." . Once in New Zealand hc feared that it would assume alarming proportions. The president saiil that he had bea. asked to have the question discussed with a view to supporting the resolution carried by stock breeders that morning. Mr. Wilson moved that the meeting favour the lifting of the embargo. Thc motion was seconded . by Mr. H. D, Brewster, of Feilding. Mr. McGowan said he was. going to oppose tho motion. . He agreed . witl Mr. Marchant that an outbreak in Ne" Zealand would be disastr'ous' to ' th« country. Imagine an ' outbreak in th«Waikato? There was a lot of ta'll about embargo but there was no embargo, just regulation of importations, : he coneluded. . , '*• • i Mr. ■ C. Marchant said that while • there may be some feelings of nervousness, he considered that Mr. - Wilson 'a views wbre right. The people in England right-ly ask': Why are you the only country xefusing to accept our ' regula- - tions? If New Zealand^ h'ad ^a, quota ' placed upoir -her e^pbrts' "to 'England produceir's would' be- heavty- t losers.;' if *, there was" no - embarjgo ! against- the "im.1 portation of s.tock from : England tvhv was it that ;EngHsh breeders :were ob- ' jecting to New-Zedland'-'s attitdde? ' !. The f act ' remained, said - the " president, that throughout years of 'eXperience no bedst that 'had' been ' 'througkr. the Engli'sh ;' quarantine station' had_ contracted the disease. The ' existing-, . attitude in New Zealand'did not se'em, to be f air a,nd ho was beginning to ,f eeJ . that New Zealand , could. .aff'o.rd to allowcattle to be imported djrect at half tha '. present cost instead of holding them in" Canada or Australia. , . . . -i "I am not so -hostile as l was, t>ut at - •i? the I'isk-, that jxertj-ises me, said Mc-f H. the; . for watqhfrgv; aeroplan^S l';whfrh:c.l-w,e|:e 3 likely carriers of infection. '' froin' Ofie^ country to another. * • ♦ The president mentioned that the • South Afric®n/Goy§r»Brent J»aid - ' tfre costs connected witlp th'e importing of livo stoclc .because; it ' rec.oguised. that' such sto.bk-.'was'dQf ina,iional . benefi't. * "I. am going to change my mind to-day and support the motion," said Mr. * 'Johnson. ' . Mr. It. H. Dickie (Tuturau) was opposed to the motion and questioncd the accuracy, of the verbal reports brought back by visitors to the Old (Jountry. H'e had. followed the' reporm , of outbreaks ir> England and conclud®^ E , '

thJ W "fr r8 amended b7 deletin g the word. . embargo^ and' substituting Dut toG +and ih tMs form' to four 'D* aUdl0St by six votes