§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the outbreak of swine fever in the Eastern Counties, and whether he proposes to take any steps with reference to abolition of compensation or otherwise in the matter.
§ MR. HANBURYAs regards the Eastern Counties as a whole, namely, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, the outbreaks of swine fever for the first ten weeks are considerably less than in any of the preceding three years. But in Essex itself there have been eighteen cases, as against sixteen last year. We have already put in force two Infected Areas Orders in Essex, and the question of extending them is under consideration.
§ MAJOR RASCHIs it not easy to produce swine fever by feeding the animals on maize and keeping them short of water?
§ MR. HANBURYI have heard that there is a belief among farmers to that effect.