LIVE STOCK EMBARGO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 210, 5 August 1937, Page 5

LIVE STOCK EMBARGO.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your issue of July 31, there appears another letter on the above subject, written in reply to mine of the 15th. Your readers who have taken any interest in the controversy will note that Mr Ellis, whilst quoting and discounting Loffler and Waklemann’s discoveries carefully omits J. Hortner’s, the latter of whom stressed the work of the above-mentioned scientists, and in further experiments and research found an inoculated guinea pig excreting the virus of foot and mouth disease 198 days after infection. Mr Ellis also makes a quotation from the British Minister of Agriculture, dated January 9, 1935. From data in my possession at a subsequent date, viz., February 9. 1935. the same official in reply to Lieut.-Colonel Heneage, M.P., said that 93 separate premises in 21 different localities between which no connection could be traced had been found infected with the virus of foot and mouth disease. Mr Ellis is very fond of discounting the work of foreign scientists, but has nothing t.o say about the two British ones quoted. Also, lie says the information is about 45 years old. On May 22, 1936 (see “Manawatu Evening Standard,” May 23, 1936) a M.R.C.V.S., B.Sc.. speaking at Palmerston North, said: “It has been quite definitely established that an occasional carrier did exist.”

Personally, I think that is quite'up-to-date, and considering that there were at least 21 outbreaks in England last year, scientists are still at a loss at either eliminating or controlling this disease. That there is a definite risk has been amply demonstrated, for whence came swine fever, contagious abortion. Johnnes disease, tick (I mean cattle tick) in North Auckland, all imported,- and now we have another cattle disease contagious at that. viz.. Trichomoniasia, in two herds in the South Auckland district. Surely we have enough, without any more. So why take the risk of getting the worst of the lot here, viz., a disease that has baffled scientists for 98 years, both British and foreign, and still has them thinking? Does any -sane person want to see wholesale slaughter carried out among the flocks and herds of the Dominion? That seems to be the only way of temporarily checking its spreading. It by no means eradicates the disease, or why the continual outbreaks overseas year after year, month after month? Just let us remember that practically every-thing-that moves is a carrier—birds, vermin, hares, rabbits, etc. If once introduced the disease is sure to get in among the wild pigs, goats, deer, etc., in the forests in the high and rough country, and then what ? I leave it to your readers. Will Mr Ellis state positively that no animals have got through quarantine from anywhere since May. 1931. to the present date? From information possessed by one I might be able to convince him that the overwhelming confidence he has in the quarantine stations overseas is seriously misplaced. Always there is the human factor to be considered. Another point as to the lifting N of the embargo. In one breath its supporters say there are no carriers. In the next the disease may be introduced by some other means such as aeroplanes, bulbs, straw, etc. So to use their own words they admit, there are carriers and then again there are not. So where are they ? It has been suggested . that the disease manifests its presence within 14 days. Well. 6ir, in Great Britain it lias been manifesting its presence from 1839 to 1937, a period of 98 years, so. how are the importers 'goihg.:|dL‘ , getfjstock fodders from an unclean country'; < Some task, eh?

Mr Ellis contends that fresh blood is wanted. I take it ho is a breeder of Southdown sheep, so would ask him where the Ellmans (father and sons), Rigden of Hove, Penfohl of Selsey, Jonas Webb, S. M. Jonas of Clirisvvall Grange. Rovston. and Henrv Webb, of Streetby Hall, get fresli blood. Did they not. bring the breed to almost perfection by. selection from within the type, and cannot our New Zealand breeders do the same? Did these men ever have to go 13.000 miles for fresh blood? And therein lies the key to the position. Surely what men have done men may do, or are tile breeders as stud masters lacking in the essentials that make for success ? But lam digressing. The point of issue is the danger of introducing foot and mouth disease into this country. Personally. I think there is if the embargo is lifted. Meanwhile, let us do our best to trv and keep this little country free from any more diseases in stock (which latter are our chief source of income) and let us call a halt right now by taking no risks, and future generations will arise and call us blessed.—l am. etc.. J. C. RYMAN. - Kairnnga. August 4, 1937.