MENACE TO TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1922, Page 5

MENACE TO TARANAKI.

CATTLE TICK PEST. DRASTIC ACTION URGED. DISCUSSION BY FARMERS. The menace of the cattle tick pest to Taranaki, emphasised by the reported presence of the tick on the coast, was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki branch of the Farmers’ Union. The opinion was expressed that although the departmental officers were doing their utmost it was not at all certain that the tick was actually in the coastal district.

Referring to the reports from the coast Mr. E. Maxwell said the department had taken prompt measures. The report was only a report, no matter how well substantiated, but it brought before them the danger of the introduction of the tick to Taranaki. Although the department was dealing with the menace Mr. Maxwell could not say that he was satisfied with the attitude taken by the Government in the past. The Farmers’ Union and others had urged the introduction of certain methods, but he 'believed effective steps l|ad not been taken, and the tick was spreading throughout the North Island.

It had been suggested that the tick could be restricted to the North Auckland district, but it was still spreading down the east coast and into the Waikato. It was admittedly as far south as Cambridge, and despite denials he believed it was now in the lower Waikato. Down through the Mokau was the chief stock route into Taranaki and it was certain that the tick would arrive here unless prompt measures were taken to prevent it. It was time the Farmers’ Union took steps to prevent it, even if it went to the extreme measure of prohibiting the importation of stock into Taranaki from the infected areas. The tick could be transported by horses, cattle, dogs, hares and many other animals. Mr. Maxwell was satisfied that the loss to the country would be enormous if the tick got into Taranaki, and the milk yield from the herds would go down 30, 40 or even 50 per cent. In a district like Taranaki the spread of the tick would be very rapid. It would be a terrible disaster to the country and he urged whatever measures possible he taken to prevent its coming. He was aware that the department was dealing with the matter and the inspectors were doing all they could. Speaking of the habits of the tick, Mr. Maxwell said that the female dropped off an animal into the grass, where it laid from 200 to several thousand eggs. The young tick was hatched in the first stage with six legs. It climbed to the top of stalka of grass and caught hold of any passing animal. It bit into the skin of the animal, sucked the blood and developed fully, then having eight legs. It then burrowed more deeply into the skin and later shed its shell, when the female dropped to the ground and laid its eggs. The tick would live for a long time without food, probably 15 months. It was a thousand times a greater danger than blackleg. The stoppage of importing stock into Taranaki would not be a very serious matter, but the danger from the tick was a great deal more serious. Inspection of the stock coming in would only be superficial—absolute prohibition of importation or a quarantine area was necessary. Mr. Owen said the matter required very serious consideration; its danger could not be gauged. He suggested that a farmers’ vigilance committee be set up to watch the position. Mr. Ruskin also emphasised the danger. He. had had considerable experience of'the ticU and the danger could not be too strongly emphasised. The president (Mr. F. Mills) moved: “That this meeting expresses its appreciation of the prompt action of the department in regard to the reported outbreak of the cattle tick in Taranaki, but at/ the same time wishes to state that it is by no means satisfied that sufficiently effective steps have been taken to keep the pest out of Taranaki, and urges upon the Minister the necessity for the most drastic steps being taken to prevent, if possible, its spread into Taranaki. Failing any more effective method we suggest a quarantine area, with dips, near the boundary on the stock routes into Taranaki, or the total prohibition of the importation of stock from infected areas.” The motion was carried unanimously.