§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. Gulland.]
§ Mr. DILLONI desire to ask a question of the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) as to whether he can give us any information as to the alleged fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, and the cause of that outbreak?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)Since Saturday a very unfortunate occurence has taken place. The hon. Gentleman is aware that it is confined practically to two counties, both very important, Cork and Tipperary. On Saturday I received a telegram stating that an outbreak had been confirmed a short distance from the town of Fermoy, in county Cork. On pursuing inquiries we found that two brothers with two farms, one on each side of the road, had each bought a calf in Cork, on 8th February last, at a sale, by which most of the trouble has been caused. The calves were taken to Fermoy. The Department went in search of the animals, and found one. This one was concealed; it took the disease; it was still concealed. I suppose these gentlemen considered that they had done a good day's work in defying the police. But the whole of the animals on the two farms have been slaughtered, and foot-and-mouth disease has broken out on both farms. Whilst this was going on these men continued to send the milk of the farms to the creamery, and those who got the separated milk back from the creamery are now suffering because on one large farm seven head of cattle—the whole of the animals—have had to be slaughtered, and in addition to that these men absolutely sent on Friday last four animals to Mitchelstown Fair for sale and sold them. We have traced the animals this morning, we are now tracing the whole of the animals which were at Mitchelstown Fair on Friday last. Fortunately the fair was not a large one, but the labour involved is, nevertheless, very great. We have traced a large number of 1496 the animals throughout the country, but the occurrence has caused the greatest disappointment throughout the whole country, because we cannot say what may happen, first, from the sale of the separated milk, and, secondly, from the sale of the animals that were at the fair. I have considered the question at some length; I think the case so grave that I have ordered a prosecution. I do not know what it is likely to produce, but, at all events, all I can do, I suppose, is to show people who make complaints that the Board of Agriculture is at work, and that there are other causes at work to which they had better pay attention. I am sorry to make the announcement that there have been two fresh cases to-day at Thurles—one reported to me at seven o'clock this evening. I am sorry to make the announcement, but I think the time has come for making a clean breast of it. The real onus is upon the men who conceal first of all the animals and then conceal the disease.
§ Mr. FIELDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will refuse to give compensation to those men concealing this matter?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI have no power. I am bound by an Act of Parliament, and we must compensate for all the animals which we destroy.
§ Mr. RUSSELLFive or six miles.
§ Adjourned at Twenty-two minutes after Eleven o'clock.