§ MR. MARK J. STEWART (Kirkcudbrightshire)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that last month the fine of 19s., including expenses, was imposed at a Justice of the Peace Court in Elgin on John Taylor, son of a butcher, who pleaded guilty for having on the 16th February last moved from Rothienorman Railway Station, in a scheduled district, four cattle from Rothes without a movement licence from the Local Authority; whether the Board of Agriculture has taken any notice of the sentence; and whether, having regard to the large gains which may arise through contravention of the Orders in Council, it is his intention to take any steps, by legislation or otherwise, to secure the infliction of more severe penalties for such offences, 918 and thus deter dealers, butchers, and others in the cattle trade from spreading infection through the country?
§ MR. CHAPLINThe only information which I have upon this subject is than which is contained in the public Press, from which it appears that at a Court in Elgin on March 30, Bailie Grant, General, Duff, and Dr. Webster on the Bench, John Taylor was charged with having, on February 16, moved from Rothienorman Railway Station, in a scheduled district, four cattle to Rothes without, having a movement licence from the Local Authority of the County of Elgin. He pleaded guilty, and the Justices imposed a modified penalty of 19s. and costs,. the maximum penalty under the Act being £20. It is not for me to criticise the action of the Bench, and, indeed, I know nothing of the circumstances; but it is obvious that if penalties of this trifling amount were usually imposed it would render it impossible to enforce the Act.