§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)On behalf of the hon. Member for South Glamorganshire, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there is, or has recently been, an outbreak of South African horse disease both on the Kilkenny as well as the Waterford side of the city of Waterford; if so, can he state how it was introduced, and what steps are being taken to stamp the disease out; will the Government consider the advisability of not holding horse shows in that locality; and have the Agricultural 1135 Department in Dublin circulated any leaflets or otherwise to farming societies so that tenant farmers may be made aware of the nature of the disease.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe last case of disease occurred on the Kilkenny side of Waterford in May. The disease appears to have been introduced through the medium of Army horses. The steps taken to eradicate the disease include the destruction of affected horses, and occasionally of horses in contact; the isolation and supervision of horses exposed to infection, and the cleansing and disinfection of infected places. It is not at present considered necessary to prohibit the holding of horse shows in the localities concerned, but an Order containing precautionary regulations in the matter has been made. Information respecting the disease has been circulated to veterinary surgeons. I am considering the desirability of adopting my hon. friend's suggestion at the end of the Question.
§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)Has not the central authority received active co-operation from the local authorities in stamping out this disease? Is it not the case that of the compensation paid for animals slaughtered half is paid by the local authority and half by the Imperial authority? May I ask whether, under the exceptional circumstances, seeing that the disease was introduced by the artillery stationed at Waterford, the right hon. Gentleman will not see that the whole cost of the animals slaughtered is paid out of Imperial funds?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI believe the Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second, it is part of the policy now under consideration. It is the invariable practice in these cases to charge the compensation partly against local and partly against other funds, and it would require strong reasons to justify a departure from it. I quite admit that in this case there are special circumstances, but the whole matter is now under consideration.