§ MR. BIRKBECKasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether it is a fact that upwards of 300 head of cattle arrived at Liverpool on the 31st of January in the steamship "Kansas," all affected with foot and mouth disease; and, whether, taking into consideration the serious losses incurred by tenant farmers from foot and mouth disease, Her Majesty's Government will prohibit the importation of live stock from Foreign Countries where disease is known to exist?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe steamship Kansas, from Boston (United States) arrived at the foreign animals wharf at Liverpool, at noon on January 30, 1883, having on board 313 cattle and 398 sheep. The Inspector of the Privy Council stationed at Liverpool certified on the same day that 219 of the cattle were affected with foot-and-mouth disease, and six sheep with sheep scab. The cargo was landed at the foreign animals wharf at Birkenhead, and there slaughtered. In reply to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I have to say that it is not the intention of the Privy Council to prohibit importation from foreign countries where disease is known to exist. I am advised that there is no country in the world where disease, as defined by the Act, is nonexistent, and that prohibition would be in direct violation of the principle of the Act, which distinctly provides for the reception and slaughter of animals coming from countries where disease is known to exist.