§ MR. CORRANCEsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, When he proposes to bring in his Bill for the better regulation of the Importation of Foreign Cattle; and, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take into consideration the 879 expediency of appointing Quarantine Ports for store stock, as well as the slaughter of fat stock at the place of disembarkation, coming from places known to be infected?
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, the Order for the appointment of quarantine ports was passed on the 10th of November, 1866, and the Order for the slaughter of cattle at the place of disembarkation on the 26th of May in that year. Therefore the two provisions which the hon. Member desired to see carried out had already been fulfilled. It was quite true that an exception was made with regard to the Metropolitan Cattle Market, because there was great difficulty in supplying that market with a sufficient quantity of meat. An Order had been passed permitting cattle to be sent direct from the ports of Southampton, Harwich, and London, to the cattle market for the purpose of immediate slaughter, but under restrictions which it was supposed would prevent the spread of the cattle plague. With regard to the other part of the Question, any port might be made a quarantine port if desired, but the expense was so great—no less than £2 per head—that importers were not very eager to see a port turned into a quarantine port.
§ MR. READsaid, he wished to know, whether it is intended to compel the slaughter of cattle at the place of disembarkation?
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, that under the Order he had just alluded to, all fat stock imported from abroad had to be slaughtered at the port of disembarkation, except at the three ports he had named, and from those places they must be sent direct to the Metropolitan Cattle Market.
§ MR. CORRANCEsaid, he wished to ask the noble Lord when he intends to bring in his Bill for the better regulation of the importation of foreign cattle?
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, the Bill had been introduced into the House of Lords in order to save time, owing to the press of business in that House, arising from the protracted discussions on Reform. He believed the second reading of the Bill would be taken in the other House in about three-quarters of an hour.