COLONEL, BLUNDELL (Lancashire, S. W., Ince)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Agricultural Department is aware that pleuro-pneumonia has brokon out in the districts of Wigan, Pemberton, and Newton, Lancashire; whether, in the four cases which have occurred, the cattle have been bought from the same firm of cattle dealers; and whether the Inspector was taken to only one of several farms belonging to the firm of cattle dealers in question?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordYes, Sir: I am aware that there have, unfortunately, been out breaks of pleuro-pneumonia in the districts of Wigan and Newton, but we have received no Returns from Pemberton. In the case of five recent outbreaks in the neighbourhood of Wigan and Warrington, it has been ascertained by an Inspector of the Board that the diseased animals were bought of a local dealer named Bennett, of Padgate, who has professed his inability to give any information as to the origin of the cattle. I have no information as to 845 whether the Inspector was taken to only I one of several farms belonging to the firm referred to in the question.