MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, with reference to the representation made to the Board of Agriculture on behalf of the cattle importers of Liverpool by Messrs. Simpson, North, and Johnson, solicitors, that the provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act were not being carried out by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, and to the reply of the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, that, so far as the Board were aware, the intentions of the Animals Order of 1886 were being complied with, whether the Board of Agriculture, before such reply was made, caused any inquiry to be made in Liverpool with regard to the matters complained of in Messrs. Simpson, North, and Johnson's letter; and, if so, from whom such inquiry was made; whether the Board of Agriculture caused any inquiry to be made from the cattle importers in Liverpool; and whether any, and what, steps were taken to learn what facts they relied on in support of the representations made to the Board of Agriculture on their behalf?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. H. GARDNER,) Essex, Saffron WaldenI received a letter from Messrs. Simpson, North, and Johnson on the 2nd February, 1893, stating that no reception lairs for foreign cattle were provided by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board as required by the Orders of the Board of Agriculture, to which letter a reply was sent in the terms indicated in my hon. Friend's 799 question. No special local inquiry was made in Liverpool before the letter was answered, nor do I think that such inquiry was necessary, for the reason that all foreign animals' wharves are constantly under the personal supervision of our Inspectors, and those Inspectors are in consequence thoroughly conversant with the accommodation provided. I shall be very glad, however, to give my best attention to any further representations which may be made to me.
§ MR. H. GARDNERI shall be happy to consider that point.