§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 652 Whether Government Veterinary Portal Inspectors in Ireland receiving a high salary are allowed to practise their profession to the great injury of local veterinary surgeons; whether local veterinary surgeons are excluded from holding the office; whether the Portal Veterinary Staff were prevented from practising when under Professor Ferguson, Dublin, but are now permitted to do so by the Privy Council; and if the Government would make it conditional on the appointment of a member of the Veterinary Staff at each port to not privately practise, or permit local veterinary surgeons to hold the office of inspectors at the different ports; and, whether, in England and Scotland, local veterinary surgeons are appointed as Portal Veterinary Inspectors?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Inspectors in Ireland are required to give their whole time to the service of the Department, if required, and the Government do not recognize any right on the part of the Inspectors to engage in private practice; but where the Public Service does not suffer and is not neglected in any way, the Government do not interfere with any Inspector who engages in private practice on his own responsibility. Local veterinary surgeons are not excluded from holding the office. The course taken in regard to private practice when Professor Ferguson was Director, was the same as at present. The Government do not think it necessary to make any change in the conditions. I understand that the conditions in England and Scotland as to these appointments are the same as in Ireland.