§ 31. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at an inquest held last Wednesday by the Bradford city coroner on the body of Herbert Denby, a willower, in the employment of A. Crossland and Company, shoddy merchants, evidence was given by a member of the said firm to the effect that the shoddy dust, after passing from the machine used for willowing the wool shoddy, was collected and sold every few months to be used as manure on hop gardens in Kent; and whether, in view of the recent increase of anthrax among farm animals throughout Great Britain and the increased risk to human life resulting therefrom, he will take steps to prevent the dissemination of the disease through the medium of possibly infected shoddy dust used for the above purpose?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHMy right hon. Friend has received a report on this case. It appears that the material handled by the firm in question is the waste produced at the carding stage after the wool has passed through the stages of washing and willowing, in which the danger of anthrax is to a large extent eliminated. The Secretary of State has no information that cases of anthrax among farm animals have been traced to the use of the dust from this waste as manure in the hop gardens of Kent, but he will consult with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture on the subject.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIn view of the considerable increase of anthrax among farm animals, will there be continued co-operation between the Board of Agriculture with the object of its suppression?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHWe shall be very glad to give effect to that view, and if the hon. Gentleman has any communication to make we shall be very glad to receive it.