HC Deb 20 July 1876 vol 230 cc1677-9

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Mr. BIGGAR

asked, Whether, since there were Amendments to this Bill, it could be proceeded with now, after half-past 12?

THE CHAIRMAN

said, that it was quite competent to proceed with the Bill.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

said, that many Irish Members, including the hon. and learned Member for Limerick had expressed themselves as willing that the Bill should be proceeded with that evening.

On Motion, That Clause 5 (Effect of order) stand part of the Bill?

MR. BIGGAR

said, this Bill was not at all called for. It was only supported in Ireland by the large graziers and cattle salesmen, and it would injure the interests of small farmers. As this clause would put the Bill in operation by means of the Poor Law Guardians, he would move its rejection.

MR. BUTT

said, the hon. Member was mistaken in thinking that the large graziers in Ireland wanted this Bill. It had been seen in Ireland that it would be of great advantage to them if they could establish confidence in England in the store cattle exported from Ireland. This would be the result of the Bill, and he was especially anxious that one of its objects—the establishment of an efficient inspection at the ports of debarkation in Ireland—should be attained. This might lead to the abolition of inspection in English ports. He had some Amendments himself, which he would reserve, on the Report. He thought that the cost of this inspection should be borne by some general fund, and not at the expense of the unions.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

assured the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Biggar) that there was no intention on the part of the Government to place on the Boards of Guardians the duty of paying Portal Inspectors, though he did not know that he could hope for aid from the Imperial Treasury. The powers given to the Boards of Guardians were distinctly powers in addition to those already possessed by the Lord Lieutenant.

THE O'CONOR DON

never liked this Bill, and in Ireland there was no demand for it. The greatest hope he had in regard to it was that in nine-tenths of the country it would be a dead letter.

MR. MURPHY

conceived that the Bill would achieve for Ireland a vast advantage in restoring confidence in Irish cattle in English markets. Six hundred thousand cattle were annually imported into England from Ireland, and Englishmen would be satisfied if they knew that in Ireland the same precautions would be adopted under this Bill as were now adopted in England.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 6 agreed to.

Clause 7 (Appointment of Committees).

Mr. BIGGAR

objected to the authority therein given to Boards of Guardians to delegate their powers, and moved an Amendment accordingly.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

assented to leaving out the Proviso, if the feeling of Irish Members was against it.

Proviso struck out.

Clause, as amended, agreed to, and added to the Bill.

Clause 8 (Appointment of Inspectors and other officers).

On the Motion of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Amendment made authorizing the Boards of Guardians to revoke appointments of Inspectors, but requiring them after such revocation to make another appointment so long as required by the Lord Lieutenant.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 9 to 12, inclusive, agreed to. Clause 13 (Mode of payment of compensation).

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

moved, in page 5, line 5, after "union," to insert— Provided always, That in case it is proved to the satisfaction of said Chief or Under Secretary that any animal in respect of which compensation has been paid by the treasurer of any union was, within seven days immediately preceding its slaughter, brought into such union solely for the purpose of being shipped to some place out of Ireland, or sold at a fair, and that the owner or person in charge of such animal has not been guilty in relation to such animal of any act in contravention of any order, regulation, or licence made or granted under the principal Act or this Act, then such Chief or Under Secretary shall, by order, direct payment to such treasurer out of the moneys for the time being in the Bank of Ireland, to the credit of the Cattle Plague Account, of the whole of the moneys certified to have been paid by way of compensation in respect of such animal.

Proviso agreed to.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

promised to consider before Report the subject of the hon. and learned Member's (Mr. Butt's) clauses, providing that the Bill should not extend to animals brought into Irish ports for being again exported there from, and for the regulations as to exportation of animals.

Preamble agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Monday next.