FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4711, 13 June 1924, Page 2

FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE.

THE DEPARTMENT’S STEPS TO AVOID INTRODUCTION. The steps taken by the Department’ of Agriculture to prevent the introduction of foot and mouth disease into New Zealand were explained by the Minister for. Lands in a letter to the Hauraki Plains County Council, which body had made representations on the subject. The Minister stated that the position in other countries was being closely watched by the department, and it would not hesitate to take fureher action if considered necessary. The importation of cattle from countries where foot and mouth disease was prevalent was already absolutely prohibited, while on March 6 last an Order-in-Council was gazetted prohibiting the importation ot oats, bailey, maize, hay, straw, and chaff from the United States of America, Queensland, and Western Australia save with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture. So far as Australia was concerned the embargo was imposed on account of the presence of cattle tick in Queensland and the outbreak of rinderpest in Western Australia. No case of the latter disease had, however, bden reported since the middle of. December, but nevertheless the department did not contemplate removing the embargo in the meantime. As a further special protection regulations have been made pro\ iding for the destruction of all hay, straw, or chaff packing accompanying goods imported into the Dominion from Great Britain, Ireland, or any part of the Continent of Europe, or from the United States of America, but in the case of Great Britain, it was provided that destruction would not be required when the woods were accompanied by a sworn certificate or statutory declaration to the effect that the hay, straw, or chaff used for packing had been disinfected in. the prescribed manner. This declaration and invoice for the goods had to be submitted to the High Commissioner* an officer of whose staff then issued a covering certificate, marking the invoice at the same time in such a manner that they can be readily identified with the certificate thus issued.

in regard to the movement ot horses between New Zealand and Australian, and Great Britain and.the. Dominion, the letter pointed out that that horses did not contract foot and mouth disease, and, further, that this disease did not exist in the Commonwealth, so that there was no possibility x of the introduction of it from there. Whatever horses had been shipped from England, 'the High Commissioner’s officers had made a special point of ensuring that the fodder and straw bedding accompanying them was obtained from districts where foot and mouth dsiease did not exist. But in order that no risk should be taken the bedding and used fodder were not allowed to be landed in the Domniion, being thrown, overboard . before the vessel entered port.

The Minister trusted that the above explanation would remove any feeling which might exist that the department was not fully alive to the great responsibility which devolved upon It of protecting the live-stock interests of the Domniion.