§ MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Railway Companies' Conference have refused to allow a patented humane cattle car to run over their systems in Great Britain; and, if 25 so, whether he will cause inquiry to be made, with a view to enable and encourage a more humane system of live stock laud transit to be introduced in the three kingdoms.
§ MR. AILWYN FELLOWES (Huntingdonshire, Ramsey)The Board of Agriculture have not recently received any information as to the views entertained by the railway companies as to the merits of the car to which the hon. Member refers, which I think we are right in assuming is the car patented by Mr. John Rooth in 1894 and 1895 and now the property of the Humane Cattle Car and Ship Fittings Co., Ltd. We are always very glad to receive any suggestions for the protection of animals from suffering during inland transit, but we have no power to prescribe the use of a particular wagon. I may add that in 1901 the car in question was examined independently by the carriage and wagon superintendents of the railway companies represented on the Cheshire Lines Committee, who found themselves unable to recommend its adoption.