HC Deb 21 June 1894 vol 25 cc1638-9
MR. TOMLINSON

In the absence of the hon. Member for the Walthamstow Division of Essex, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will explain why the lauding of American cattle by means of lighters from large vessels is sanctioned at the Foreign Animals Wharf at Deptford, but a similar practice is not recognised in the case of the Foreign Animals Wharf at Gosport; and whether there is any legal objection to such landing by means of lighters taking place at Gosport?

THE PRESIDENT of THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. H. GARDNER,) Essex, Saffron Walden

The Foreign Animals Wharf at Deptford is part of the Port of London, and the vessel from which animals are transhipped for lauding there has practically arrived at her destination, and is merely proceeding to some other wharf in the same port to complete the work of unloading and for disinfection or cleansing. In the case of Gosport, what is proposed is that ocean steamers should be detained in the Channel for the purpose of transferring cattle into lighters before proceeding to the port of destination, or else that animals should be allowed to be transhipped in the Thames and taken round to Gosport in small vessels for landing there. There is, therefore, an essential difference between the two cases, and although I am not prepared to say that there is any absolute legal objection to either of the arrangements proposed, I believe that they would be inconsistent with the maintenance of that reasonable security against the introduction of diseased animals which the law is designed to afford.

MR. TOMLINSON

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that at Gosport the vessels are to be detained in the Channel and the animals transhipped?

MR. H. GARDNER

There is no place at Gosport at which the animals can be landed from these large vessels.