MR. PATRICK O'BRIENOn behalf of the honourable Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that 1,010 sheep were lost out of 1,325, and also 157 cattle out, of 225, off the SS. Port Victoria, from Buenos Ayres to Liverpool, which arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, the 12th June; and whether measures will be taken to prevent such losses in future by the substitution of fittings which will resist the weather and carry live stock in a more humane fashion?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTUREI am aware of the extremely serious losses to which the honourable Member directs attention, and careful investigation is now being made of the circumstances which led to them. Our Orders require that the materials used in the construction of the pens in which animals are carried shall be of a substantial character, and of sufficient strength to withstand the action of the weather, and if it should appear, as the result of our inquiries, that there was any contravention of the Orders in 37 this respect in the case referred to, we shall consider whether proceedings against the persons responsible should be instituted, or the use of the vessel for the carriage of animals prohibited.