§ Mr. W. H. MYERS (Winchester)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the recent outbreaks of sheep-scab in Hampshire; and, whether he will direct an inquiry into the origin of the disease, and take prompt measures for stamping it out.
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HERBERT GARDNER, Essex, Saffron Walden)Yes, Sir, I have received returns respecting the five outbreaks of sheep-scab reported from Hampshire during the present year. It rests with the local authorities to make all necessary enquiries and to carry into effect the requirements of the Orders of the Board of Agriculture on the subject of the disease in question, and I gather from the reports before me that those authorities are fully alive to their duty in this respect. In one instance, the person in charge of the sheep was prosecuted for not giving notice of the appearance of the disease, and a penalty was imposed by the magistrates.