§ MR. FFRENCHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether his attention has 880 been called to a resolution passed by the Wexford Board of Guardians, requesting the Privy Council to relieve the Wexford union of the Swine Fever Order, 1895; (2) whether he is aware that swine fever has been on the decline in this union under the system existing previous to the recent Order, and that it is quite possible to take sick pigs to a fair without in any way violating the Order of 1895; and (3) whether he would inquire if the restrictions have proved useless to cope with the disease, expensive to the ratepayers, and tended to diminish prices; if so, would he recommend the Privy Council to cancel the order in the Wexford union?
MR. J. MORLEYAttention has been drawn to the resolution of the Wexford Guardians, to which reference is made in the first paragraph. During the last quarter of 1894 there was a decrease in the number of outbreaks of disease reported in the union as compared with the preceding quarter. In the present year four outbreaks occurred in January and eight in February. The movement of diseased or suspected swine to a market or fair is prohibited by the General Order of 1893, and it was unnecessary, therefore, to make further provision on this subject in the Order of 1895. The local authority is also empowered with a view to preventing the spread of swine fever, to make regulations prohibiting or regulating the movement of swine within their district, or into their district. The working of the Order of 1895 is being carefully watched by the Veterinary Department, and if it be found that unnecessary restrictions are imposed in any district the question of their modification will be considered.