§ MR. J. WILSON (Glasgow, St. Rollox)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is prepared to appoint qualified veterinary inspectors in place of the non-qualified gentlemen who at present act as travelling inspectors under the Veterinary Department, provided he could get qualified veterinarians at the same salaries.
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HANBURY, Preston)My hon. friend is mistaken in supposing that the lay inspectors do veterinary work or act under that Department. They are chosen with great care and certainly cannot be described as non-qualified for the particular duties which are assigned to them. I am disposed, however, to increase the number of our veterinary inspectors, 758 and I am about to apply to the Treasury with that object.