FARMERS, ARISE!

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1919, Page 6

FARMERS, ARISE!

By "Tahi Hereni."

The statement made by Mr Heberton to a meeting of the Farmers' Union Executive at Palmerston North relative to the spread of cattle tick in New Zealand, as published in the Daily News of Ist April inst, should sound a veritable tocsin of warning throughout the Dominion, specially in those parts which, like Taranaki, are almost entirely dependent for the prosperity they have of late years experienced on the health and well being of their cattle, and the comparative freedom from those diseases and parasitic pests, the curse of other countries, which has so far been their lot.

In the interests of the whole community of the Dominion all who have knowledge of the special pest mentioned by Mr Heberton should do their utmost tc make known all they can on the subject without delay. An avenue also is opsned whereby the New Zealand Farmers' Union, by an effort in oonsonance with its title, really united, can assert itself, bringing pressure to bear on the Agriculture Department to bestir itself, and, in accordance with the resolutions of the meeting at Palmerston North, to investigate the manner in which the cattle tick was introduced to New Zealand, to isolate those districts in which it now exists and prevent the exodus of affected cattle from infected—or should it be infested?—to clean parts of the country, as well as to check the importation of live stock from counties where these parasites are known to exist. It is only necessary to ask anyone who knows the conditions in countries where cattle are subject to insect pests to become convinced of the absolute necessity for immediate action. The branches of the N.Z.F.U. throughout the land should demand quick comprehensive and concerted action on the part of, what should, in a pastoral country such as ours, ■ bo one of the most efficient branches of the Government service, the Department of Agriculture. Demand action now. It is too late at this stage to say that such a state of things ought to be impossible. It is too much like locking the stable door after the horse has been stolen to indulge in recriminations, however true it may be, that it is a crying shame and disgrace to us all that this, geographically speaking, most favored country in the world should be invaded by such insidious foes. No use now to cry out that vermin and disease have passed the barriers. Our duty as a people is to clear them out, thoroughly clean and disinfect our premises, and then take mighty careful steps to prevent a recurrence of like trouble.