§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)On behalf of the honourable Member for South Monaghan, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that rules exist in the county of Lancashire and parts of Wales preventing Irish reared swine from being kept by the people of districts mentioned for fattening; whether he is aware that the Irish Veterinary Department have promised that no pigs suffering from disease will be allowed to be shipped from Irish ports; and if he will endeavour to get the County Council of Lancashire, and parts of Wales referred to, to relax rules mentioned, which cause great loss to the rearers of pigs in Ireland?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyThe regulation made by the Lancashire County Council prohibiting the introduction of swine into the county from Ireland, except for slaughter, was revoked as from the 1st ult., but I believe that similar regulations are still in force in some of the Welsh counties. Doubtless the Irish authorities do all that they can to prevent the exportation of diseased animals, but there is still a danger of the introduction of disease by that means, and I am not surprised that the local authorities concerned should desire to protect their districts from it. The matter is one entirely within their own discretion, and I cannot undertake to do more than bring under their notice any representations I may receive on the subject.