DREAD DISEASE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1932, Page 8

DREAD DISEASE

FOOT AND MOUTH AFFECTION. 1 PROHITIiIiON I OF IMPORTS. WELLINGTON, July 11. The clanger of introducing foot and mouth disease into New Zealand has led the Government to prohibit the importation from California of grass seed, including lucerne, clover, .;,im millet seed, ground fruits, plants, onions and other vegetables., ; An Oidef-iri-Coupcil who gazetteci last v'eek which enforced the prohibition, [and it was stated by the Depart iUent) of Agriculture to-day that the ~-ep had been takdn to prevent 'foot and mouth disease infection. It .is the opinion ■ of’* -the Departmental experts that greater danger of introducing foot and mouth disease exists in the importation of m terial from inerted countries than from the importation of stock. 1 • Investigations have piroved that on two recent occasions foot and moutl. „.sea ( .e-broke out among pigs in California after they had been fed on garbage from ships arriving from foreign countries. The,danger, said the experts, is'that the disease might be in to- New Zealand by means of ground fruits, 'seeds, or vegetables grown in soil which had been treated by manure from infected sties. The infected animals suffered from blisters in the mouth and on the feet, and ii they came' in contact with ground growth;.-which was> subsequently extorted; to New Zealand,,'there would be decided possibility that the disease wcul find its way here. ■There was stated to be no danger as far as tree fruits were concerned, but the position was different with vegetables and other things, grown in the ground- and which might become quite easily infected. ;