THE CATTLE TICK.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 30 April 1919, Page 4

THE CATTLE TICK.

(.■•/■ MBC. K. WILSON'S REPORT. ! Mr C. Iv.' "Wilson, who attended the ' conference of delegates from tho vati- ' ous branches uf the Auckland province, :■ called for the purpose of dealing; with ! the cattle tick pest, reported to the Pio Pio branch oil the proceedings at the '. recent conference of branches on the

subject. . He reported that Mr Munro, who had been sent to Australia to gather informationVfrom the. localities affected and infested, in the methods adopted to cope with it, said the real danger lies not s,o much in tho tick itself as in. the capacity of spreading other diseases amongst cattle. The insect buries itself in the hide of the beast and causes irritation, and when fully developed falls off and lays its eggs in the soil. When the eggs hatch there are various ways in which the insect spreads further afield. Besides cattle,,dogs and even watercourses have been known to become carriers. All stock-owners should carefully examine the under portions of their stock, wh'ei'O the insects are chiefly to be found. Mr Munro explained that in

Queensland the means taken had tailed to eradicate'the tick, but in New South Wales on the Queensland border, an area of 54 miles by 35, had been careI'.illy guarded and the pest had boon kept within bounds. The methods adopted there were as follows: Eighty dips bad been erected and GO permanent lands employed and all stock had to be flipped fortnightly for nine months in

ue year. By this means the spread was topped, although the. tick was not cxenninatcd. Arsenical dips are used, ;nd are considered quite satisfactory in .Ulitl" the pests, and the stock arc then ifjviitted to leave the area. V:lc conference finally passe-, a resoition asking the Government to ehedule the tick, get dips constructed i suitable positions in affected areas,

and appoint local committees lo cooperate with the Department All .-.lock must be dipped before leaving such area, and in this way it s aoped that the pest may be confined to the present infected areas.