§ COLONEL BARTTELOTasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that Belgium has not prohibited the importation into that Country of German sheep, which consequently may be imported via Antwerp into this Country, and whether he has taken any steps to prevent such an occurrence; also, whether his attention has been directed to the enormous increase of foot and mouth disease throughout the length and 557 breadth of this country, and has also shown itself in Ireland; and, further, whether he is aware that the foot and mouth disease has been largely imported from abroad into this Country, and whether he is prepared to prevent the importation of cattle suffering from that disease?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, it was quite true that there was no prohibition against sheep coming from Belgium into the interior of the country. It was also true that sheep might come from Germany into Belgium, but the reason why they had ordered sheep coming from Germany to be slaughtered at the port of landing was that it was especially dangerous that sheep should come from Hamburg, not because there was any disease among the sheep, but because they might have been in contact with diseased cattle. Consequently there was not the same reason against sheep coming in from the interior of Belgium, as they might not have gone to the dangerous place, which was Hamburg. The Government had to exercise a most painful and responsible discretion in this matter. On the one hand, they had to take such steps as were necessary to prevent the introduction of cattle plague, and, on the other hand, they ought to take no steps which were not necessary, because any interference with trade did, to some extent, diminish trade; and considering the present high price of meat, any unnecessary interference with the cattle trade was most objectionable. It was a most difficult business, and they were endeavouring to do whatever was necessary, and no more than was necessary, to prevent the introduction of the cattle plage. As regards the foot and mouth disease, he was perfectly aware it was more prevalent than usual throughout the country, and the attention of the Veterinary Department had been particularly directed to it. With reference to the importation from abroad of animals having foot and mouth disease, when such animals were found in any cargo all the other animals were slaughtered at the port of landing. There was greater restriction with regard to foreign than to home stock, and he did not think they would be justified in going further. He was sorry to say that there was every reason to believe that the disease was now indigenous, and if that were the case no restrictions 558 on foreign importations could put a stop to it. He took that opportunity of saying that the Government had thought themselves warranted in passing an order allowing cattle imported from France to be slaughtered at the port of landing. He thought that subject to this restriction, the import might well be allowed; and he hoped the result would be that the import of cattle from Normandy and Brittany would have the effect of increasing the food supply of the people.