§ MR. GATHORNE HARDYsaid, he had received the permission of the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to put a Question 849 to him with respect to a matter of great interest, especially as the House was that evening about to adjourn for the Easter Recess. The question was, What is the purport of the Orders in Council which are about to be issued on the subject?
§ SIR GEORGE GREY, in reply, said, the Orders referred to by the hon. and learned Gentleman were very long, and he was, therefore, afraid, as he had only a few minutes before received notice that the Question was about to be put, that he could not give to it so complete an answer as he should desire. He might, however, state that the purport of the new Order was the revocation of all the existing Orders, with the view to the consolidation of the whole of the existing regulations in one document. Many of the conditions contained in the existing Orders would be re-enacted, as for example those having reference to the appointment of inspectors, and to the notice required to be given of the appearance of the disease in any district, and to the disinfection of premises in which diseased cattle had been. It was desirable that a good many regulations of that description now in force should be renewed, and the Order would contain new provisions with regard to the proclamation of infected districts and the prohibition of all markets and fairs, except those held under the licence of the Privy Council. With respect to the removal of cattle, it was intended to extend the provisions of the existing Act until the 16th of April, and after that date to substitute a regulation, authorizing the removal of cattle by railway or by highway under licences, some of which would be left to be framed by the local authorities, and others would be contained in a schedule. There would be other provisions, which he need not now enumerate. It was intended that the greater part of this Order should not come into operation until the 16th of April, but part of it would come into operation immediately in order to enable the requisite arrangements to be made for giving effect to it, and it would be in the possession of the Courts of Quarter Sessions the week after next.
§ MR. DISRAELIsaid, he wished to a9k the right hon. Gentleman, if ho has any objection to state to the House whether the Government have received information that the cattle disease had been re-imported from abroad into this country, and, if the statement is authentic, what measures the Government have taken in consequence?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, that the day before yesterday information was received that several milch cows had been recently imported from Holland, and not taken to a market, but removed directly from the place of disembarkation to dairy sheds in London, several of which were found to be affected by the disease. Simultaneously with that information the Government received a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at the Hague, stating that the disease wag prevailing to a great extent in Holland, and that it was believed some animals suspected to be affected with the disease were being sent to this country. An Order in Council would be passed prohibiting, unti the Order should be revoked, the importation into this country of cattle from Holland.
§ SIR ANDREW AGNEWsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it were possible to lay the Order of Council upon the table of the House that evening, so that it might be placed in the hands of hon. Members?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYreplied, that it was impossible to place the Orders on the table now, but they would be published in the Gazette and sent to the Courts of Quarter Session. The Orders did not apply to Scotland, a separate Order being required for that country.
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, he wished to ask, whether Her Majesty's Government, in consequence of the re-importation of the cattle plague, has not under consideration the propriety of prohibiting the removal of imported cattle from the place of debarkation?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, that that was prohibited at present. No cattle imported into London could be taken beyond the metropolitan district. That provision would be continued by the Order.
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, he wished to know, whether the Order applied to sheep as well as to oxen?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, in reply, that it would only under certain circumstances. With respect to markets, the regulations would not apply to sheep, unless the sheep had been brought into the same market with cattle, and then they would be subject to the same restrictions.
§ MR. LOWEsaid, he wished to know whether, as cattle had been introduced into this country from Holland, and taken from the place of importation, not to be slaughtered, but to dairies, the Government will take into consideration the propriety of 851 subjecting all store cattle coming from abroad and not intended for immediate slaughter to quarantine?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYreplied, that that question had been referred to by the Committee moved for by his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, he rose to ask whether, under the proposed Orders, it would be competent to move cattle from one part of the metropolitan district to another?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYreplied that it would be not competent to move any of them without licence.
§ MR. CRAWFORDsaid, he wished to know, whether the right hon. Gentleman can state the particular locality from which the diseased cows came?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYreplied that he could not.