MR. PEELasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been directed to the transit of cattle 1946 from Ireland to the ports of this Country, and to alleged cruelties and ill-usage practised on such cattle on board the vessels; and, whether, if he has no special information on the subject, he will direct the inspectors to make inquiries and to report on the condition of the trade in regard to the feeding, watering, and general treatment of the animals so carried?
§ VISCOUNT SANDON,in reply, said, the attention of the Veterinary department had been called to the alleged cruelties, and they had received orders to make inquiries and to report from time to time as regarded the general treatment of the animals. Several prosecutions had been instituted against shipping companies for neglecting to comply with the provisions of the Order in Council which regulated this trade. The department would take every possible care in future that the provisions of the Order were strictly carried out, so that all needless suffering might be avoided.