§ MR. NICOL (Argyllshire)To ask the Lord Advocate whether the stallions that were bought or subsidised by the Congested Districts Board for the Highlands were examined by a veterinary surgeon; or was any certificate signed by a veterinary surgeon given when the stallions were selected and sent to the congested districts.
(Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) All the stallions bought privately by the Congested Districts Board have been examined by a veterinary surgeon. There are greater difficulties in the cases when animals have been bought at a public sale and under the usual public sale conditions, but in the case of those and in the case of animals in respect of which a premium is given by the Board every 1788 reasonable precaution is taken to ensure the soundness of those sent to the various districts.