MR. OWEN STANLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, How many cases of Rinderpest in Ireland have been reported to the Irish Government, and from which districts; whether there is reason to believe that the Lung Disease, or Pleuro-Pneumonia, is prevalent in many parts of Ireland; what system of inspection of cattle and certificate for removing them has been adopted; and if care is taken to prevent diseased cattle being passed through Dublin and other ports in Ireland for exportation to England and Scotland? He also desired information as to whether the case of a cow which had been taken from Dublin to Birkenhead and had been pronounced to be ailing, not only from Pleuro-Pneumonia, but Rinderpest, had been brought before the Irish Government and reported upon?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE,in reply, said, there had been only seven cases of cattle plague in Ireland, and the whole of them came from three farms in a small district in county Down, near Lisburn. There was reason to believe that lung disease had prevailed to a considerable extent, both in that district and 1688 other parts of Ireland. Many suspicious cases had been made known to the Government, and in all of them the inspector had examined and reported. All but seven were pronounced to be something other than cattle plague. No case had occurred since the 22nd of last month, and he had been informed that there was great reason to hope that the cattle plague in the county Down had stopped. As to the Birkenhead case, he was unable to give any detailed account of it. So far as the Government knew, there had been no case of cattle plague, except in this particular district of the county of Down, and there was no reason to believe that the animal that was at Birkenhead came from an infected quarter. As there was a difference of opinion among the veterinary surgeons, he hoped the case might prove to be not one of cattle plague. The Irish Government had no reason to believe that there had been any cases beyond those he had mentioned.
§ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHERsaid, he would beg to ask the Lord Advocate, whether in his opinion the provisions of Section 47 of the Order in Council, dated 11th April, 1866, which, in some parts of Scotland, render the movement of sheep almost impossible, may not with advantage be relaxed?
THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid, in reply, that he would communicate with the Privy Council on the subject of whether the provisions of Section 47 of the Order in Council, dated 11th April, 1866, might not with advantage be relaxed.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he wished to ask, whether Her Majesty's Government contemplate making any provision to meet the extraordinary loss and sufferings which have occurred in consequence of the outbreak of the cattle plague in Cheshire?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, he had received several deputations with reference to the cattle plague in Cheshire, and much correspondence had also taken place between the local authorities and the Government upon the subject. A rate had been made by the county; but at present not one farthing of it had been levied. Looking at the special circumstances of the case, the Government would be disposed to ask Parliament to authorise a loan on more favourable terms than those at present sanctioned by law, if they were assured that a rate would be levied.
§ MR. O'NEILLsaid, he would beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1689 Whether Her Majesty's Government, with a view to the better working of the Cattle Diseases (Ireland) Act, intend to take measures for requiring all drovers and dealers landing in Ireland to submit to a disinfecting process; and whether, considering that the hay-making season is approaching, it would not be most desirable to take similar measures with respect to labourers arriving in Ireland from an infected district?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, in reply, that such measures as the hon. Gentleman alluded to for the disinfection of drovers and dealers had been taken some time back by the Irish Government under the Irish Orders in Council, and all drovers and dealers and persons in any way having charge of cattle were required to submit to a process of disinfection either at the port of landing or on the steamer, generally the latter, and he believed with very great success. With respect to the latter suggestion of the hon. Member, he (Mr. Fortescue) was in communication on the point with his noble Friend the Lord Lieutenant. There would be considerable practical difficulties in extending those stringent regulations to so large a body as the Irish labourers, but it was a point worthy of consideration.
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, that special provision was made on that point by an Order in Council, which required drovers to leave their clothes and rugs and other articles which they carried with them, or to have them disinfected.