MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Presideent of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Hindustan, from Buenos Ayres to London (Deptford) with cattle, lost 155 bullocks out of 160, and 860 sheep out of 967, and that she was black-listed for 12 months from 23rd February, 1899; whether he can state the reason why the black-listing Order has been cancelled in three months; and what has occurred since to enable the steamer to again carry live stock?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG, Liverpool, West Derby)It is the case that the losses of the Hindustan on a voyage from the Argentine, in January last, were as stated in the question, and inasmuch as we considered that the losses were in part attributable to the fittings of the vessel we issued an Order prohibiting the carriage of cattle by her for a period of 12 months. We subsequently received assurances from the owners as to the future equipment of the vessel which justified us in withdrawing the prohibition Order, but the result of her voyages will be closely watched, and the owners have been warned that any recurrence of the losses may lead to the re-imposition of the Order.
§ *MR. W. H. LONGYes, because I have satisfied myself that the weather through which the vessel passed was of an exceptional character, and I have received definite assurances from the owners that steps will he taken to make the fittings more satisfactory.