§ 6. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture the British ports at which Irish lambs have been landed this season, the number at each port, the number that were tendered sustenance and partook of it, the number that refused and the number that were forcibly fed, and the means used and the nature of the food tendered at the respective ports; and whether the experience gained disposes him to the belief that detention and forcible feeding is unnecessary and inhuman?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)According to the latest information received by the Board, 510 Irish lambs have been landed this season at Birkenhead, twenty at Cardiff, three at Ayr, and three at Glasgow. All except those landed at Glasgow, which were accompanied by their dams, were offered food—hay, ground oats, or milk—and partook of it readily. None refused food, and none were forcibly fed. The experience gained so far proves that the arrangements made for feeding lambs at the landing places have been completely successful, and that this trade is now much less open to the charge of cruelty than heretofore.
§ Mr. P. WHITEAm I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the lambs took hay and ground oats?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, those of them that were able to do so. The majority, however, toot milk.
§ Mr. P. WHITEHad they to be forcibly fed?
§ Mr. DELANYHow were they fed? Were they fed out of feeding bottles?
§ Mr. CONDONNo, they were fed on oats.
§ 88. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his Department has made any representations to the President of the English Board of Agriculture as to the loss inflicted on Irish exporters of young lambs by the twelve hours' detention at English ports; and with what result?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The reply is in the negative. No complaints as to losses of the nature referred to have been addressed to the Department.