MENACE OF CATTLE TICK

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1926, Page 11

MENACE OF CATTLE TICK

TROUBLE AT ROYAL SHOW SOME ENTRIES REJECTED. STRICK PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. About eighteen head of cattle brought in from Whangarei, Dargaville and Takanini were not permitted to enter the show grounds at the Royal Show to-day, because they were found to be affected with cattle tick. At a conference with the officers of the Stock Department the Royal Show authorities undertook to take every care to see that no animals affected with tick would be exhibited, and in acordance with the arrangement then made six inspectors commenced work at the entrance of the show grounds at four o’clock this morning and subjected each beast penned to a most minute examination. If a tick or two were found on one’ animal which accompanied others on their journey to Auckland the whole group was barred. The decision of the inspectors caused keen disappointment to intending exhibitors whose cattle were not permitted to enter, but the inspectors carried out their work with tact and firmness and their decisions were upheld by the show authorities. Arrangements were immediately made for. the spraying of the affected animals.

Cattle of nearly every breed came under the ban of the inspectors. One group of Jerseys was owned by A. E. Watkins, of Takanini. He afterwards stated that the tick was not to be found on his farm, and he considered his cows picked up the pest in a railway truck. This, he states, was in a dirty condition when it was made available to him. The Jersey Breeders’ Association intends taking the matter up with the department. Visitors from Australia stated that Australian cattle were barred from being exhibited in New Zealand for fear of bringing the tick and disease into the country. It appeared, they said, that from the trucking experiences of the owners of cattle which were barred from the show today, there was no more fear of the tick and disease spreading from Australia than there was from one part of New Zealand to another.

All the cattle paddocked in . the show, grounds to-night will be inspected by the department’s officers before being penned to-morrow morning, and all cattle leaving the show on Thursday for the north, for Taranaki' and for points south of Te Awamutu will be sprayed with strong disinfectants- before their departure from Auckland.