IMPORTING LIVE STOCK

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1930, Page 2

IMPORTING LIVE STOCK

STRICT PRECAUTIONS JUSTIFIED.

REPLY TO THE BRITISH CRITICISM.

WELLINGTON, April 8

Despite the strong comment of the visiting British farmers regarding New Zealand’s prohibition on the importation of live stock from the United Kingdom, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Agriculture stated tliat the restriction will lie maintained.

“It can readily be realised,” lie said “that British farmers find it difficult to understand why the importation of cattle, sheep and pigs from the United Kingdom is still prohibited, notwithstanding the establishment of a ouarantime station at London in which animals for export are kept under quarantine conditions Ifor two weeks before being shipped—a period long enough to enable foot and mouth clisen.se to manifest itself in any animal infected before entering the station. “Tn considering this, it is necessnrv to hear in mind the fact that New Zealand is free from manv serous d>s-

eiiises existing in the older countries and that both the Government and the farmers' of the Dominion have a 1 wavs bpen deenlv impressed with the necessity for doing everything possible to prevent the introduction of nnv of these— lmuocj a general policy of precaution which may appear extreme in some respects, is held to be warrantable in the circumstances. This general principle is fully endorsed by the farm-’ ing community. ‘‘As regards foot and mouth disease in particular, the community view it with special concern. This is accentuated by information received from travelling farmers who have observed the heavy losses incurred through it in other countries where it exists and by the realisation of how serious and widespread would be the losis to the Dominion if it became epidemic here especially as this country is dependent for its financial stability upon the production and marketing of live stock products. “The measures taken by the British Government to ensure the shipment of animals free from foot ;and mouth infection are fully known and their value fully appreciated ;-but noth with-, standing these measures and the additional precaution of. a quarantine at this end. there is a preat prepomler r ance of feeling among the pastrol community against the removal of .the present embargo. The whole question has been lately gone into by the Board of Agriculture—a very representative body, acting in an advisory capacity to the Government; but the board did not feel justified in recommending any alteration, except as legarsd' cattle from the Island of Jersey if transhipped without being landed in England. The Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union, at its meeting this week, unanimously passed an unqualified resolution tliat the present restriction should continue. Information lately received from the High Com* missioner’s office is to the effect that the quarantine station at the London docks is working very satisfactorily and it is sincerely to be hoped that the strenuous and thorough measures taken by the authorities in the United Kingdom to stamp out the disease will yet prove successful., “While th'e Dominion is still selfcontained as regards a number of breeds, there are others for which new blood is needed. The question of howto meet this position will soon need to be given very full consideration.

“Reference has ifrom time to time been made to animals of British origin brought to New Zealand via the United States or Canada. It must be pointed out that no live stock can be introduced from these countries unless accompanied by a certificate in proper form that they are in good health and have been bred there or domiciled there for a period of not less than six months. In the case of the United State, the prior consent of the Minister of Agriculture for their introduction is necessary.”