§ 75. Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department communicated with any other Department of the Government in the case of the ss. "Hartington," from which cargo was discharged last year in the port of London without any declaration being made that diseased animals and fittings and fodder had been jettisoned during the voyage from Buenos Ayres; and if he will state what action has been taken to prevent the recurrence of such cases?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Ministry has been in communication with the Board of Trade, the Foreign Office and the Board of Customs. The question of the action to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents as that referred to presents considerable practical difficulties, and the Ministry is at present in consultation with the shipping companies. In the meantime, steps have been taken to watch voyages of vessels carrying animals from infected countries which also have on board cargoes of feeding stuffs intended for Great Britain, in order that the Ministry may be in a position to take such measures as seem to them necessary to guard against the risks of the introduction of disease.
§ Sir HENRY CAUTLEYIs it not the fact that this ship arrived in England a year ago, and has it taken the Ministry a year to consider what steps should be taken?
§ Mr. BUXTONIt has taken me six weeks, and my predecessor was responsible up to that time. I understand the ship made this voyage in May of last year and arrived in England via Antwerp. The movements of ships are now being closely watched.