HC Deb 21 June 1867 vol 188 cc349-51
MR. AYRTON

said, in calling attention to the Order in Council of the 28th of May, he wished to remark that, whereas a previous order allowed cattle to be driven from the wharf to the market, and thence taken to the usual slaughter-houses, it was now required that they should remain for twelve hours at the place where they were landed, and should then be conveyed by rail only to the Islington Cattle Market. They might afterwards be driven about the metropolis or back to Blackwall, so that the effect of insisting on their conveyance by rail to the market was simply to bring a certain amount of toll to the railways, and not provide any security against inspection. This was simply a preposterous order, and whether its object was to subsidize the railway, he did not know. The slaughter-houses at Whitechapel were within a short distance of the wharves where the cattle were landed, but in order to be brought there they should be taken by rail to North London, and driven from Islington to Whitechapel. He hoped some explanation would be given for the reason and motive for issuing the Order, and in order to allow the noble Lord an opportunity of addressing the House a second time he would move "that the Order in Council of the 28th of May relating to the cattle plague is inexpedient."

Amendment proposed, To leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "The Order of the Privy Council of the 28th May 1867, respecting the importation of Cattle is inexpedient,"—(Mr. Ayrton,) —instead thereof.

Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."

MR. CRAWFORD

said, that the subject introduced by his hon. Friend was one which deserved the consideration of the Government. He was informed that what the railway companies required was time to enable them to complete the necessary sidings and pens.

LORD ROBERT MONTAGU

said, that the Order in Council was issued at a time when the cattle plague was increasing in London. It was represented to the Committee of Privy Council by the veterinary surgeons that when the cattle arrived at the port of landing it was impossible to say whether they had the cattle plague or not, but, that if they were allowed to remain at rest for twelve hours, the disease could be easily detected. An Order was therefore passed to retain the animals for twelve hours at the port of landing; but, as the inspection could only commence after the lapse of twelve hours, the practical effect was that they would be kept considerably more. The animals usually arrived on Saturday evening for the Islington Cattle Market of Monday. They would therefore not be removed until Monday morning, having thus been kept in quarantine for thirty-six hours. By such an arrangement when they got to the cattle market there could remain very little doubt as to whether they were infected or not. If on inspection they proved to be infected they would be slaughtered at once, but if not there was very little harm in letting them walk for a certain distance to the slaughter-house. The object of the Order was to prevent the spread of the cattle plague in London. If this Order were rescinded the animals would be landed and taken straight from the wharves across the metropolis, infecting the lairs and every place through which they might pass. By the present arrangement moreover it would be known where every animal went, as they could be traced by means of the market passes; but if the Order were rescinded it would be impossible to follow the animals to their destination, and the cattle plague would soon become beyond control. The object was good, and by no other means could it be carried out. The Order that had been passed had been brought under the notice of the railway companies, and the persons at the various wharves. The Committee of Council had given the railways until the 18th of June to prepare the necessary sidings, &c., but the only body which had done anything had been the Metropolitan Board of Works, who had erected slaughter-houses. The railway companies did nothing, and then when it was too late they rose en masse against the Order in Council, If any inconvenience had occurred it was their own fault, in not having made due preparation.

MAJOR JERVIS

said, he considered the Order was one of the most absurd ever issued by any Government. Could the time spent by the beasts in the cattle market be any test of their having the disease or not?

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.