STOCK DISEASES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20493, 9 May 1938, Page 6

STOCK DISEASES

The most encouraging statement in the outline of the Government’s plans for fighting facial eczema, given by the aeting-Minister of Agriculture last week, was that the scientific inquiries and investigations “must be continued for a considerable period after the cessation of the present outbreak.” The plain fact is that the attack must be sustained until the danger has been completely removed. Primary producers could not be expected to acquiesce in any other plan. They do not want to be exposed to crippling losses y.ear by year, and no Government could contemplate such serious inroads into the production of the Dominion. The thing must be fought, and if, as all will hope, the present outbreak subsides as the weather becomes colder, that certainly must not be taken to indicate that the work of investigation can be suspended. The producers are anxious to cooperate as far as possible with the scientists. Many of them have lost heavily, and have seen others .practically ruined.

During the season the Waikato impor.ted from other districts large numbers of sheep. It must not be assumed that this stock was all disposed of for cash. Many purchasers made arrangements for the necessary financial accommodation, and the stock probably formed the security for the advances made. Disease has, in some instances, cut down the security in a drastic manner, but the liability of the purchaser remains, although the means of earning an income from his flocks have been seriously reduced. The Times has already suggested that the Government should appoint some qualified officers to investigate the position of the producers, while the scientists go ahead with their plans for combatting the disease. And the reasonableness of such a course is obvious. In some instances the men concerned have the resources necessary for the re-stoeking of their places, when that can be done with a measure of safety. Others probably will be able to make arrangements of a satisfactory kind. But there are some who have invested all their capital in the land and stock, and have neither the money nor the necessary negotiable security to enable them to purchase stock. It is not suggested that anything in the nature of a blanketing plan—covering all losses—should be considered.

The position calls for, and could be met, by a selective method. All the aspects could be considered, including the resources of the farmer and even his capacity as a. primary producer. When the necessary information had been collected the authorities would be in a position to state definitely the immediate losses that have been incurred. They could not even estimate what the ultimate loss will be to the Dominion, for that will be spread over a period of years. But the losses will be the greater if those who have been hardest hit are unable to re-stock their properties. Production has been adversely affected, and all parlies in the political arena agree that the economic stability of the country is based on primary production. It follows that, in the interests of the country, quite apart from those of the individual producer, the course that would enable production to be kept at the highest possible level, the steps that might, if taken promptly, tend to limit the cumulative loss, would be fully justified. The men on the land will also place no little importance on the promise made by the Minister that any new information will be “widely and quickly disseminated.” The farmers want to know what to do, for the protection of the stock, and also what experience or research has shown must be avoided. The means of spreading the information is at the sen-ice of the authorities.