§ MR. FFRENCHI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the effect of the restrictions imposed under the Swine Fever Order in discouraging pig-breeding, and to the fact that many farmers are urging that the restrictions are worse than the disease; and whether he will consider the advisability of devising some other means for stamping out swine fever.
§ MR. J. H. LEWIS (; for Sir EDWARD STRACHEY) FlintshireA careful examination of the facts fails to show any relation between the pig population and the swine fever restrictions. From 1901 to 1904 the number of pigs rose steadily, although the restrictions were much more severe during that period than they now are. The decline has taken place in the last two years, during which the severity of the restrictions has been considerably relaxed. All our experience goes to show that there would be no hope of the eradication of the disease if the restrictions were removed.