HC Deb 01 May 1894 vol 24 cc32-3
MR. MAGUIRE (Clare, W.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the specific examination of Canadian cattle, announced by him on the 23rd of April, has yet commenced; when the examination or examinations will be made, and by whom they will be undertaken; and whether, in the event of any cases being reported as suspicious, he will cause the information to be published?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. H.G.VRDNER,) Essex, Saffron Walden

I propose that the special examination of the lungs of Canadian cattle should be commenced on the 16th instant, by which date the trade will have been resumed to an extent sufficient for the purpose. The lungs will be examined in the first instance by Veterinary Inspectors stationed at the ports, who will inspect them as soon as practicable after the slaughter of the animals. Any suspicious cases will be forwarded for examination by the veterinary officers of my Department in London, whose Reports will be submitted to me for my personal decision as to the course to be pursued. I shall be quite willing to give the same full publicity to any further circumstances which may occur in connection with this difficult subject as I have done in the past.

MR. FIELD

Has any friction occurred between the Veterinary Authorities on this subject?

MR. H. GARDNER

I am not aware of any.

MR. FIELD

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to give the result of the examination?

MR. H. GARDNER

That depends on the number of cattle corning from Canada; probably towards the end of June.

MR. CHAPLIN (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)

Do I understand that if any suspicious case is reported to the Board of Agriculture that information will be made public?

MR. H. GARDNER

I shall follow absolutely the precedent of last year?

MR. CHAPLIN

What was that precedent?

MR. H. GARDNER

The right hon. Gentleman knows it perfectly well.

MR. CHAPLIN

I forget.

MR. H. GARDNER

I shall follow the precedent that has always been adopted by the Board of Agriculture, both in the right hon. Gentleman's time and in mine.

MR. JAMES LOWTIIER (Kent, Thanet)

I think those who have not the official or ex-official knowledge of the right hon. Gentleman are entitled to ask what those precedents are.

MR. H. GARDNER

There is absolutely no concealment on the part of the Board of Agriculture in relation to these matters, but the light hon. Gentleman asks me to give specific information whenever lungs are sent up to the Board for examination, which I could scarcely promise to do.

MR. CHAPLIN

When the right hon. Gentleman says he will adopt the precedents set by the last Government, I wish to ask him whether there were any cases of imported diseased cattle under the late Government, and, therefore, whether there was any possibility of a precedent having been set in the matter?

MR. H. GARDNER

Yes, Sir; there were such cases in the time of the last Government.

MR. CHAPLIN

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say when those cases occurred? If it is not convenient for the right hon. Gentleman to answer the question now I will put it upon the Paper.

[No answer was given.]