§ MR. READsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to allow the 1145 general sale of cattle at markets, fairs, and public auction after the 1st of June, and if any alterations in the present restrictions are contemplated, he will state those alterations to the House?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, in reply, that the present opinion of Her Majesty's Government was, that it would be inexpedient to make any alterations in the Order of the Privy Council, which would expire on the 1st of June, imposing restrictions upon the open sales of cattle at fairs and markets, and therefore they pro posed to renew that Order not for a specified time, but until any other Order should be made in reference to this subject. Re presentations had reached him from three counties in Wales, alleged to be entirely free from cattle plague, and from the towns of Liverpool and Wolverhampton, praying for some relaxation of the restrictions now in force. In the first case, it was alleged that it was difficult to get people to go up to the various farms to purchase cattle, and under the circumstances their request had been complied with, that certain fairs should be held, power being reserved to the Privy Council to re-establish restrictions at any time they thought fit. In the cases of Liverpool and Wolverhampton the representations were founded upon the apprehension that it would be impossible to carry out the present system during the heat of summer, because, in addition to other inconveniences, the slaughter of so many cattle in one place might injuriously affect the health of the inhabitants of those towns. The Privy Council had given directions that inquiries be made on the subject of these latter representations, and had postponed coming to any decision upon the question until they had obtained the requisite information.