BLACKLEG MORTALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8060, 14 March 1906, Page 2

BLACKLEG MORTALITY.

SPECIFIC DETAILS. ELTHAM FABMEBS' LOSSES. The Farmers' Union in Taranaki have been collecting particulars concerning blackleg mortality in the various districts, and these will shortly be completed and forwarded to Wei. liuglon in connection with the claims that are to be made for compensation, from the Government. The lirst district list completed is that of the Eltham Branch of the Farmers' Union, and last night we received the following communication from the chairman, Mr T. 0. Hodson :- Sin,—l enclose herewith a list of calves which have died after inoculation for blackfcg. The lists have been collected from the suppliers, by the courtesy of the various managers of the creameries connected with the Eltham Dairy Co., for the information of the. Eltham Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. At the muiu factory only a portion of the calves were brought out for inoculation, as news of the mortality had become general. On the Fraser-road, also, only calves which had to be sold have been brought out for inoculation. Although the loss of the calves is an item, because it is always the fattest and strongest calves that go, and also in many cases it has been the picked heifers which were being kept to mainlam the herd that succumbed; still that is nothing compared to the intm.luetkm of this dread disease on to farms hitherto clean. So far as [ can ascertain blackleg was unknown within the area served by the Klthaiii Dairy C'o.'s creameries. Now, we have the whole of the district contaminated bv measures promoted with the intention of , protecting farmers. Someone has . blundered, and .1 maintain, that lite. . tanners have a just cause fop righteous . indignation. Th.o c.vcuse of "fault of , head not of heart" is not sullicient, and . the depth of the farmers' leclmgs will only be understood when ; tunjieriod foil inoculation eomos around . again, There is no question whatever, , that, as stated at thoPaimerston North M inter Show, the whole Agricultural Uepartment wants reorganising and placing under a more callable and practical Minister. At present the farmers only jibo at the Agricultural Department and its teachings, and just y so, if the work done !s guuged uy the results of contagions maminitis treatment, blackleg inoculation and he spraying for potato blight. It is to be hoped that the farmers will now make use of their Union organization and make a united claim for loss of their calves, andcoulnmjuatio,, of their fawns principally, Thanking you for the interest your paper has taken in ventilating this matter." LIST OF DEATHS. Main Factory, Eltham ... 15 Ellhum-roiul Creamery ... 7 Hunter-road Creamery ... 22 Te Hoti-road Creamery ... 20 1' raser.i'oad Creamery ... 2i | Maiigawl(er.o-r.Qad Creamery ad iiawhitiroa-i'oad Creamory ... 7 1 Mangaiuingi.road Creamery 13 Cheal-road Creamery "] Xo rc - Wingrovc-roud Creamery ', l, , irns , to J J hand. .Total IJmi Maw, Factory and Klthanwoad inoculated same day. A largo number W calves was no| brought in for treatment, At Fraser-road only calves which «ere to bo sold shortly were inoculated.