THE OUTBREAK OF PLEUROPNEUMONIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1200, 6 March 1880, Page 2

THE OUTBREAK OF PLEUROPNEUMONIA.

In Tuesday's issue we published the extraordinary letter of Mr J. Jackßon, Private Secretary to the Attorney-General, to the Cambridge Farmers' Club, denying the existence of pleuro, and stating that Messrs Kinloch and Naden, veterinary surgeons, were of opinion that another disease had been mistaken for it. The gentlemen referred to have written to the Herald on the subject matter of Mr Jackson's letter as under :—: — To the Editor. — Sir, — My attention was drawn by a. gentleman to-day to a letter in thcWAiKATO Times of Tuesday's issue, purporting to be signed by "Mr J. Jackson," Private Secretary to the Attorney- General, stating that I affirm plcuropneumonia does not exist here. The only excuse I can make for the appearance of such a statement is that it is a slip of the pen, and the word not is unintentionally inserted, as, by looking at the context, I am thankful to see the word but between my name and our Cattle Inspector's (save the mark !) opinion. However, I say again that plcuro-pncumonia is here, and that the action of the Cattle Board is similar to that of j the ostrich sticking his head in the sand, and thinking himself out of danger because he can't see it : so they, ignoring the presence of plcuropncumonia, imagine they will stamp it out. — I am, &c, Edwd. B. Kinloch, V.S. To the Editor. — Sir, — Referring to a letter which appeared in the "Wukvio Timks of March 2nd, dated February 25th, re pleuro-pncumonia. I have already stated in my certificate of February 25th that pleuro-pneumonin does exist, and I hay c ample proof of this ; only to-day 1 ha\ c been informed, upon the most reliable authority, th.it ;i \etcrinary Mirgoon is giving instructions to his i'rnj>li>)crs whore he detects pleiiro-pneumonin

that the cattle should be killed and buried ; and this has been carried out, there being' no order in force to compel stock-owners to give notice to the Government or the Inspector. — I am, &c, G. Naden, M.R.C.V.S.L.— Auckland, March 3rd, 1880. Mr Jackson has evidently made a big mess of the whole affair, and written at random on an important matter on which he knows absolutely nothing. The vapourings of a private secretary, however, signify nothing in themselves, except so far as they reflect discredit on his superior ; and we much regi'et to notice that no explanation of the stupid letter in question has been vouchsafed by the Attorney-General, and we cannot but consider that the Cambridge Farmers' Club is thus somewhat cavalierly treated. The inaction of the Government in the matter of the existence of pleuro — for it certainly docs cxiU — is simpiy disgusting. We thoroughly endorse the following remarks, in reference to the Government and the pleuro plague, of our morning contemporary :—"lt: — "It might reasonably have been supposed that when the existence of the disease was asserted by a competent veterinary surgeon, who had had abundant experience practscally, and also by several men who had seen numbers of cases here and at home, the Government would have taken steps to have some certainty on the subject, preparatory to adopting measures to deal with the disease. But, instead of that, when the Cambindge Farmers' Club pass certain resolutions, they receive the most incomprehensible official utterance ever penned. They are told that ' the subject is receiving the careful consideration of the Government, the Cattle Board, and the Agricultural Association,' while the fact is that the Cattle Board and the Association can do nothing until the Government enable them. But the most extraordinary fact is, that in the face of the distinct statements of Messrs Naden and Kinloch, printed in our columns, the Attorney-General writes to the fanners in Waikato that these gentlemen do not believe that pleuro-pneumouia is here at all ! Messrs Kinloch and Naden are still waiting for an explanation of how this came about.