§ 5. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, considering the annually increasing damage to hides, now estimated at £2,000,000 a year, not to mention the discomfort to cattle caused by the maggots of the ox warble-fly, he will consider the desirability of making it compulsory upon all stock owners to squeeze out from the skins of their cattle and destroy all such maggots during the first four months of the year, and so prevent the multiplication of these pests during the autumn through the deposit by the mature flies of thousands of eggs upon the hacks and legs of cattle?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. He is advised that it is at least questionable whether the Board have power to make a compulsory Order in the terms suggested by the hon. Member, and in any case it 8 would be exceedingly difficult to enforce. The Board are conducting experiments with a view to finding a more effective means of checking the ravages of the warble-fly, and if, as is hoped, satisfactory results are obtained, steps will be taken-to bring them to the notice of farmers.
Mr. CATHCART WASONMay I ask my right hon. Friend to bring under the notice of the President of the Board the-fact that this question was dealt with a great many years ago by dipping?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISI will do so.