ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can take any steps under the Law as it now stands to protect this country against the importations of milk from countries where foot-and-mouth, pleuro-pneumonia, or other infectious diseases exist, which are liable to be communicated not only to cattle but to human beings, and are consequently dangerous to public health; and, if the existing law is defective in this respect, will he ask for further parliamentary powers in the ensuing Session to enable him to cope with this acknowledged evil?
§ * MR. WALTER LONGIf any danger to the health of animals in this country were to arise by reason of the importation of milk from abroad, I think there is no doubt that I should be able to meet it by the exercise of the powers conferred upon me by the Diseases of Animals Act. Questions affecting the health of man fall, not within my own province, but within that of the Local Government Board, and it would be for that Board to consider whether further legislation is necessary in the direction indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ MR. KILBRIDEasked the right hon. gentleman whether he was aware that milk coming from abroad was frequently adulterated with borax, and also whether he was aware that in Brazil the use of borax was prohibited by Act of Parliament as an adulteration of the article.
§ * MR. WALTER LONGsaid, that he believed that to be the case; but he had no power to interfere with imported milk on the ground that it was not satisfactory as human food. He could only interfere with milk and other agricultural produce in cases where the health of cattle was endangered in consequence of the condition of the article.