STOCK IMPORTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 10

STOCK IMPORTS

CONTROL OF DISEASE. REGULATIONS CRITICISED. Per Press Association. MASTEIITON, July 27. The emphatic opinion is expressed by Sir William Perry, a member and lately deputy-chairman of the Meat Board, that the proposed new foot-and-mouth disease regulations to govern the importation of stock from Britain—put iorward for consideration by the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union —are in themselves impracticable and unworkable, and would in some respects establish worse conditions than those now existing. The leading features of the proposed regulations, Sir William said, made it very evident that they must lyjve been framed by someone who had not had any experience of importing live stock and did not understand the practical problems raised or the difficulties entailed. The proposal that live stock should be imported in collective consignments through breed societies was quite impracticable. In order to improve and raise the standards of quality, stud stock breeders must individually be free to select animals of the right type, as and when they required them. Under the system ot collective importation through breed societies, stud breeders woulcl be asked to work more or less blindfolded. It was proposed that 6tock should be imported either for 6ale within the Dominion or on consignment to individual breeders, but the breeder who was required to make his importations as part of a group consignment would be hampered seriously in bis operations and put to needless cost and delay. Group importation for sale might fail completely to meet the requirements of New Zealand breeders. Who, in that case, was to take the responsibility and bear any loss incurred ? There was, of course, no objection to importations of individual breeders being made through the Deparement of Agriculture. The great point was that each breeder must be free to use his own expert knowledge in importing stock that would meet the particular requirements and objectives he had in view. Stud stock must be imported also at such times as would fit in with seasonal operations—this was the strongest objection to group shipments. The proposal that New Zealand should institute measures of veterinary control in Great Britain. Sir William said, was an insult to the British authorities, who had instituted strict and comprehensive measures of control based on the most authoritative scientific advice. Measures of quarantine and other control enforced in Britain were as rigid and exacting as could well be devised. Other countries which were not protected by any means to the same extent as was New Zealand by the factor of distance, admitted British live stock through ordinary quarantine. Of all the veterinarians in New Zealand there were only two who thought this country would incur any risk by doing the same. , . .in It had been proved in extended working experience that British quartine and control arrangements were absolutely safe. The proposed veterinary supervision of stock during the voyage out to this country would simply be an unnecessary expense. It was of course right, said Sir A) llliam. that imported stock should be brought direct to New Zealand without being landed at any port of call, and that every possible precaution should lie taken in regard to fodder and bedding. There was far greater risk ot foot-and-mouth disease being imported per medium of straw and other vegetable materials, meat, ships’ garbage, etc., than of its being introduced in live stock. The wdiole question should be considered and dealt with from the standpoint of common-sense in the lightot the advice of competent veterinarians and other scientific experts. This country great-lv needled isuch specimens of beef cattle as could be obtained from Great Britain, and there was plenty of room here also for more first-class Southdowns.