THAT EMBARGO

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 256, 1 December 1930, Page 5

THAT EMBARGO

ON STOCK FROM THE MOTHERLAND. MORE OUTBREAKS IN GREAT BRITAIN. THE FOOT AND MOUTH SCOU11GE. The lifting of the embargo on the importation of stock from Great Bntain lias been urged occasionally in recent times, esjieciallv since tlie establishmcnt of tlie quarantine station for the certification of disease-free stock ror export at tlie East India Dock, London. It is argucd that the purpose of tlie embargo — the preventipn of the iutroduction of foot-and-mouth disease into Kew Zealand — is adequately served hy tlie precautionary measures taken by the London quaraiitine authoritiys The guarantee of sucli responsible hodies as the Empire Marketing Board, the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and tlie Britisli Ministry of Agriculture is behind the quarantine selieme. Stock exported under its regulations must come from areas wliich have been free from foot-and-moutii disease for a stipulated period. The period of detention wliich must be undergone in London is several days longer tlian tlie incubation period of the disease. In addition, tliere would be the long sea voyage to give increased security from infection liere, while quarantine regulations at this end would provide extra protection. Yet, iu spite of safeguards as apparently adequate as tliese, the demand for the lifting of import restrictions lias come from a remarkably small proportion of our breeders, and Hawke's Bay breeders seem well content to leave matters as tliey are. ATTITUDE OF BREEDERS. The great majority of New Zealanders are uncompromisingly opposed to any easing, let alone lifting, of the existing han on iniportations. Nor is tlieir attitude hard to understand. It may seem to indicate a lack of confidence in the liighly-accredited sponsors of tlie quarantine selieme. Sucli is uot the case, however. Tlie oppuosition is inspired only by a realisation that New Zealand's primary industries liold too vital a position in her economic structure to permit any ri.sk, 110 matter how remote, of their dislocation. And tlie infection of her lierds and fiocks witli foot-and-mouth disease would mean niore tinui dislocation. It lvould mean virtual, if only temporary, extinction. Perhaps New Zealand would be more willing to follow the lead of otlier countries in accepting Englisli stud stock under the quarantine selieme, were Eugland herself ahlo to show a prolonged period of freedom from- tlie scourge wliich onco played such havoc among lier live stock. But tlie Homelaud, unfortunately, _ lias been suhject, and apparently continues to be suh.iect to sporadic, almost persistent, outbreaks of the trouhle. Last month it was announced tliat _ "tlie existence of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture at Holbeck, Leeds," and tluV tlie statement was understood to refor to two cases o-f the diseases in pigs. The October issue of tlie Journal of the Britisli Ministry of Agriculture, now to hand, indicates that tlie position is more serious tlian the first intimation sliowed. Tlie outbreak referred to occurred on September 6. TWO FURTHER CASES. Next day, two further cftses were confirmed iu tlie same locality, these recurrauces taking place witliin nine montlis of the previous confirmation 011 December 23, 1929. On September 15 last, two furtlier outbreaks were confirmed at Pirbriglit, Surrey, ivliile on September 20, a new centre ot disease was discovered at Beesdale, Stokesley, Yorksliire. Tlie usual restrictions on stock lnovements • were applied to an area of approximately fifteen niiles round tlie infected pvelnises at each centre of disease, wliile an order issued subsequently, gave the Ministry of Agriculture power to treat _ with serum animals tliat liad been in contact witli stock infected with foot-and-moutli disease. The steps taken to combat outbreaks of the disease seem to be fairly thorough. But to New Zealand eyes they appear very much like closing tlie stahle door after tlie liorse has gone. Tliere is some definite cause for the periodical outbreaks and to us folk who are sometimes accused of a finnicky carefulness 111 our efforts to save our own live stock from similar experience, it seems that tliat cause is not sought witli the thorougliness witli wliich its results are combated. Until this is done, and a satisfaetorily long period of immunity from disease is enjoyed by Englisli stock, the Dominion' s policy in respect of the import® hau must be continued. It may bc tliafc opposition to the lift ing of the embargo will continue as long as trading policy in Britain does not place proliiliitions on imports from countries in which foot-and-mouth disease lias not been effectively coped lyitli, the apaprent significanee of sucli a step beiug illustrated hy the fact tliat the United States liave been free from tlie foot-aiid-nioutli scourge ever since they banned nieat and allied products from ihe licavily-infested Argentine.