PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1202, 11 March 1880, Page 2

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

Ox Tuesday Messrs T. Morrin, B. Maclean and J. May, members of the Auckland Cattle Board, interviewed the Premier regarding the steps the Government proposed taking re the outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia. Certain resolutions, passed by the Cattle Board at a meeting held on Tuesday, were laid before Mr Hall, who promised to look into the whole subject on his return to Auckland from Waikato. No fresh case has been, up to the present reported, and it is hoped that the cool wet weather, which appears to have set in will have the effect of staying the plague. If the disease spread through the herds of the North Island, its effects will be most disastrous. There will be a great advance in the price of every discription of butchers meat. The disease, although undoubtedly introduced, does not seem as yet to have spread very far, and if vigorous measures are at once taken it may be stamped out. There is yet time for the Government to retrieve the charge of apathy in this matter which has been by common consent urged against it. If the disease be not at once stamped out it is sure to spread as it did in 1363. There is no time even to wait for legislative action. If any real good is to be done the Ministry must take the responsibility of the position, and have the whole of the infected animals destroyed, as the disease develops. The members of the Government need be under no apprehension as to the result. Parliament will be unanimous in indemnifying them for any action they may take in order to save the colony from such an infection as the firm establishment of so dreadful a disease amongst cattle would bring about. It would too, we believe, see the justice of amply compensating the owners of any infected Ccattle destroyed. It is useless for the Government to bandy words with cattle boards as to responsibility. Whatever is to be done must be done at once or the doing will be useless. Whatis now contended is that the Government should at once, and unhesitatingly assume the responsibility of destroying the animals, in which, up to the present time, the disease has been discovered. What may have seemed a matter of perhaps too grave responsibility for one Minister can now, however be shared by those whose visit to Auckland occurs so opportunely.

The aggregate steam power in use in the world is estimated at present at 3,soo.ooohorsepower employed in stationary engines, and 10,000,000 horse power in locomotive engines, he steam power is equal to the working force of quite 2.*), U 0,000 hor.se.«, and 1 hor.-»e consumes 3 times as much food as one man. The stenm power, therefore, is equivalent to the saving of food \ .1,300,000 human being*.