STOCK DISEASES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 796, 17 October 1929, Page 10

STOCK DISEASES

LOSS OF £4,000,000 A YEAR IN NEW ZEALAND

WASTAGE IN FARMkTIG Interesting survey’s intended to minimise waste in the agricultural ar.l pastoral industries in New Zealand which have been undertaken by the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, were outlined by Dr. B. Marsden, addressing the Agricultural Science Club on Tuesday. A geological survey’ was now proceeding of the bush-sick land east or the Main Trunk railway and centerinS upon the King Country’ and pumice land, stated Dr. Marsden. He pointed ning to waste there, because farmers out that thousands of acres were rundid not know how to treat the 8o»‘The land was wonderfully’ productive, growing plenty of grasses and having a good rainfall. One of the greatest problems confronting the Dominion was the loss Ov £4,000,000 annually by plant diseases and a loss of £1,500,000 through the ravages of insects on animals. Faulty nutrition of stock, probably due to the fact that the animals were not hand or stall fed in New’ Zealand, made them exceptionally susceptible to disease. The establishment of an animal nutrition research station, attached to one of the universities, would rendc. incalculable service to the pominior, declared Dr. Marsden. He claimed that by the expenditure of £IOO,OOO in this direction the loss of £ 4.000.000 a yeacaused by’ the three main diseases among stock could be reduced to aleast one-third. The wastage occurring in coal, tun' ber, fish, wool and secondary’ tries was also discused by Dr. Marsden, who was accorded a vote o? than*--