§ MR. CHARLES DARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture what is now the condition of Germany and of the Duchies of Schleswig-Holstein in regard to foot-and-mouth disease amongst the cattle there, and whether there is any immediate prospect of the import of cattle from those countries being soon permitted?
§ MR CHAPLINThe statistics prepared by the Imperial sanitary authority for the third quarter of 1889 showed that foot-and-mouth disease was very widely spread over Germany, and that it attacked during that quarter 78,501 cattle. 58,530 sheep, 15,917 swine. Amongst other places where it existed during that quarter were Lubeck, on the boundary of Holstein, Hamburg, and Bremen, the two latter being also near to the Holstein frontier. By a return compiled by the Prussian Ministry of Agriculture up to December 31 the disease still existed at Liineburg, near Hamburg, as well as in other parts of Germany and the Rhine provinces. By 440 a further return from the German Embassy, dated the 1st inst., covering a report from the Brunswick Ministry, the disease was reported in two districts in that province. It has not been the practice to admit cattle from Schleswig-Holstein between December 31 and the end of June following, when the cattle from that country, which are grass fed, are ready for exportation. Even if an Order were now passed it is improbable that the trade would be important, but if effectual measures are taken by the German Government to check and restrain, there is no reason why the Board should not consider the question again before the time when the Order is usually passed. I can assure my hon. Friend that these restrictions shall not be maintained a moment longer than I believe them to be necessary.