HC Deb 18 June 1907 vol 176 cc435-6

Considered in Committee.

[Mr. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid.) in chair.]

Clause 1:—

SIR F. BANBURY (City of London)

said this was a protectionist Bill, and therefore he did not oppose it.

SIR EDWARD STEACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)

said the Bill gave protection against disease. It gave power to the Board of Agriculture to make orders to enable county councils to take steps to prevent gooseberry mildew. There was a serious outbreak in Worcestershire.

SIR. HOWARD VINCENT

asked if they could have some information as to how this disease arose. Did it arise from foreign insects and foreign pests? If so he was heartily in favour of the Bill.

SIR F. BANBURY

asked whether he was right in saying that the Bill provided for the prohibition of the importation of foreign fruit if such prohibition was considered desirable.

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

said the Bill was intended to prevent the introduction of insect pests by means of fruit imported from abroad. He begged to move.

Amendment proposed— In page 1, line 16, to insert the words, 'Provided that the Board shall not make an order directing the payment of compensation by any local authority for the removal or destruction of any crop or any trees or bushes unless the local authority consent to make the payment."—(Sir Edward Strachey.)

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

MR. STANLEY WILSON

expressed the hope that the Government, while adopting precautions against the introduction of insect pests, would not interfere with the foreign fruit trade at the present time.

MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

said he did not think it was very clear what the Government had asked the House to do.

Clause 1, as amended, was agreed to.

Clause 2 was agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.