85. Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked whether the right hon. Gentleman can now see his way to promise any relaxation of the existing restrictions on the importation of cattle and pigs into the ports and markets of Manchester and Salford?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAn Order of the Board, which came into operation to-day, enables Irish cattle and swine, after twelve hours' detention at the landing place, to be taken into Manchester and Salford markets under the same conditions as before the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease last year.
Mr. BARLOWWith regard to the Order, with which I have been kindly supplied, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Manchester and Salford are landing places for Irish animals within the meaning of Section 1 (b), Part 1, of the Order?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe landing place on the Manchester Ship Canal at Salford is one of the landing places.
§ Sir W. BYLESAm I right in supposing that the restrictions on the Salford Cattle Market are removed and that Irish cattle may now come in freely?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes. Sir.
§ 87. Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked whether, as the result of a recent deputation of Members of Parliament, he has dropped, or at least suspended, the Order for the twelve hours' detention of Irish cattle at the British ports of debarkation; and, if not, has he finally made up his mind to make the Order a permanent one?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe effect of the Order to which the hon. Member refers is to allow the trade in live stock between Ireland and Great Britain to be carried on with greater freedom than at any time during the last seven months. There appeared to me to be no good reason for postponing this relief, and the Order came into operation to-day. The requirement of detention at the landing place is intended to be permanent, but, as I have already stated, if experience shows that so long a period as twelve hours is unnecessary, I shall be prepared to reduce it.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENHas the right hon. Gentleman yet made any reply to the unanimous resolution passed by the Irish Council of Agriculture that the cumulative effect of this twelve hours' detention cannot fail to inflict a crushing blow on Ireland's greatest industry?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI courteously acknowledged the resolution sent to me. I do not agree that this twelve hours' detention will be a crushing blow, or any blow whatever, to the Irish cattle trade.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the committee appointed in Dublin, consisting of representatives of the cattle trade and of the different county councils and others interested, have yet communicated with him, and whether they have made and formulated their suggestions and submitted them to him?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have been awaiting some communication from the committee during the whole of this week, but, as they have not communicated with me up to the present, I felt that I could not postpone the operation of the Order until their communication reached me. If they have anything further to communicate, I shall, of course, give it further consideration.