DISEASED PIGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3215, 10 May 1911, Page 2

DISEASED PIGS.

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

In the course of some j-e marks at Eltham recntly, the Hon. Tlios. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, referring to tlie- pig industry, said that what should have been an industry of great wealth to the Dominion and one of considerable profit to individual farmers was at present in a very bad state. From information in his possession and from actual experiment, he had no hesitation ini saying that a very large proportion of the pigs intended for bacon were riddled with tuberculosis. That might seem a. sweeping statement to make, but it was necessary that it- should he: made. Both the public interests, speaking in a material sense, and the physical welfare of the public demanded that the actual facts should be .understood. The public had a, right to know the position, and it might have the effect 'of inducing producers in l this particular line to cooperate seriously with his Department in an effort- to exterminate the disease. Quite lately they had 300 pigs examined, and it was found that 200 of them were diseased, and unfit for use for food. He would not at present give anyone pork to eat. He might say that 'his Department had 1 at. present in- operation a scheme of pasteurisation l which should b'e productive of the best results. In fact, they quite recently found that pigs so: treated showed only a small proportion of disease. But there must l>e none whatever. It muist be rooted out completely. Otherwise the trade could never take a hold in tlie 1 British market. The British Board of Trade insisted on having two labels on every piece of bacon or pork exported from New Zealand, as' a guarantee, that it was free from disease. The fact was, said Mr. Mackenzie, the ideal which he had set himself on this subject, and it was a reasonable and practical ideal, would not be realised until every man who reared or fattened pigs understood this subject of disease, its treatment and prevention, and would be able to deal effeeively with it.