§ 70. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the right hon. Gentleman what is the purport and intention of the Order of his Department, dated 22nd April, 1912, under which it has recently become impossible for British railway companies to carry two cows and two calves in the same truck or waggon, and thus afforded a pretext to such companies to make substantial increases recently in their charges for the consignment of live stock?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANArticle 13 of the Animals (Transit and General) Order of 1912, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, is as follows:—
Calves, sheep, goats, and swine, if carried in the same railway truck or other railway vehicle with any head of cattle (other than a calf), or a horse, ass or mule, shall be separated therefrom by a suitable partition, but this provision shall not apply to the conveyance of a cow with its unweaned calf, if they are separated from other animals.In the opinion of the Board the largo number of cases brought to their notice in which smaller animals were injured through being conveyed with cattle in trucks without any partition rendered this regulation necessary. The Board are in communication with the railway companies respecting the increases made in their charges for the consignment of live stock.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDoes the right hon. Gentleman see any danger in putting a calf with a cow so long as they are both tied up, which has been the general practice?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe information which came to the Board was that there was a very large number of cases of injury to smaller animals through being in the same truck with larger animals. We must protect the smaller against the larger.