The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1197, 28 February 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Una wed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2B.

We stated in our last issue that there was still reason to hope that thedreadeddiseasepleuro-pneumonia had after all said not broken out in this Provincial District. Our statement was based on a report of Mr George Rust, inspector of cattle, who, after examining the herd of Messrs Ireland, and especially the lungs of the beast reported on by Mr Kinloch, affirmed his belief that it was not pleuro-pneumonia from which the beast had been suffering. Mr Naclen, M.8.C.V.5.1., who, we hear, is the only really qualified veterinary surgeon in this Provincial District, has dispelled all glimmer of hope after examining Messrs Ireland's herd last Wednesday afternoon. A valuable yearling shorthorn was picked out and slaughtered, and the ])ost mortem showed that not only was the animal affected, but very badly so. The right lung was almost useless, and the left one was also much affected. The condition of the animal as to fatness, &c, was good, and would have been likely to deceive a less skilled person than Mr Naden. The existence of pleuropneumonia among our herds is therefore an indisputable fact. What our paternal Government is about we cannot conceive : no steps, so far as can be gathered, have up to the present moment been taken, either in the direction of quarantining, or in any way isolating cattle suspected of being affected; no inspector is appointed, and the happy-go-lucky, taihoa style — a specialite of New Zealand Governments — characterises the action of Government on this vital subject. Little less blameable is the negligence of the various local bodies in the Provincial District — notably of the Cattle Board. It is well to remember, perhaps, that if butchers unfortunately get hold of infected beasts the health of the consumers is in. fearful jeopardy. It therefore behoves the various Municipal bodies to take such measures as may be necessary to see that a really careful inspection of cattle slaughtered for consumption is made. The supineness of the General Government in the matter of this dreadful scourge is positively criminal, and should serve' as an incentive to increased action on the part of all Municipal bodies.