§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN (Kent, Faversham)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the report is correct that pleuropneumonia has broken out in the Isle of Thanet; and whether, if it should prove to have been contracted from animals imported from abroad, he will still adhere to his determination to allow the importation of live stock from Canada?
§ MR. H. GARDNERI much regret to say that it is the case that an outbreak of pleuro-pnoumonia has occurred in the Isle of Thanet. So far as our inquiries have yet gone, they indicate that the disease is attributable to two cows brought to the premises from Hendon in August last, and there is nothing whatever to suggest that it was contracted from animals imported from abroad.
MR. JAMES LOWTHERCan the right hon. Gentleman say at what place or places in the Isle of Thanet the outbreak took place, and whether the disease has since spread?
§ MR. H. GARDNERYes, Sir; I happened to be there yesterday; it was at Minster.
§ MR. CHAPLINCan the right hon. Gentleman say how long the country has been free from outbreaks prior to this occurrence? What was the date of the last one?
§ MR. H. GARDNERI cannot exactly state the date. I believe there has been no previous outbreak this year.
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my question.
§ MR. H. GARDNERI have answered it.