HL Deb 09 February 1866 vol 181 cc279-81
THE EARL OF GRANARD

asked, Whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce the Bill carrying out the recommendations of the Dublin Commission, respecting measures for the prevention or localization of the cattle plague, or at least so much of them as had not already been embodied in the Orders of Council? The recommendations to which he referred were as follows:— That the owners of cattle should, in an infected district, be compensated out of an union poor rate of the union in which the infected district was situate, compensation in no case to exceed two-thirds of the value of the animal, or to amount to more than £12; that when that rate exceeded 6d. in the pound on the valuation of the union in such cases the Government should sanction a rate-in-aid to be charged equally on all the Unions in Ireland. That the constabulary should make a census of the cattle in each union, and that claims for compensation should be determined by the justices at petty sessions, upon whose certificate the clerk of the union would be empowered to pay the amount of compensation allowed at such sessions. These recommendations, he believed, had met with general approval in Ireland, and not only required no interference on the part of the central authorities but could be put in force by means of machinery which was already in existence.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, that the recommendations of the Dublin Commission were already in the hands of the Irish Law Officers, with a view to see how far these recommendations could be made the subject of a Bill.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

presented petitions from the Chamber of Agriculture and Scottish Farmers' Club and others praying that their Lordships Would be pleased, by Act of Parliament, to atop the removal of all cattle from one place in Great Britain to another for a limited time, with the exception perhaps of fat cattle, sent, under stringent regulations, to slaughter—and, in connection therewith, to enact further, that all animals labouring under the disease shall be immediately slaughtered and buried in the skin—the owners thereof being compensated to the extent of one-half the value thereof out of the national purse, or from such other source as the wisdom of Parliament may devise; that all cattle which have come in contact with diseased animals, or which have been in the same enclosure with them, though yet showing no symptoms of the disease, shall also be immediately slaughtered on the premises, the offals to be disinfected and buried, the hides to be disinfected and sold, and the carcases also, when duly certified by the inspector as fit for human food, to be sold for the benefit of the owners—one-half of the loss thereon to the owner, to be compensated, in like manner, out of the public purse, or otherwise as aforesaid; that full advantage be taken of this compulsory stoppage of transit of cattle in order that Parliament may carry out such sanitary measures as shall extinguish effectually all germs of the disease in every district in which it has appeared, so as, if possible, to prevent their development on the removal of the interdict; and in particular, that the whole premises occupied by diseased animals, or by animals which have come in contact, or been in the same enclosure, shed, or byre with diseased animals, shall be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and the manure, litter, and fodder, taken therefrom, also disinfected or burnt at the occupiers' expense—that, during the prevalence of the disease, all dogs, not under proper control, shall be liable to be destroyed if found off the owner's premises; that all local authorities shall see the provisions of the Act observed, and the penalties for the infringement thereof strictly enforced, and that every person offending against such enactments shall, for every offence, forfeit a sum not exceeding £20, which the Judge, before whom such person shall be convicted of such offence, may determine.

VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH

said, that there had been a correspondence at the Foreign Office with respect to the system employed by two Belgian practitioners for the cure of the cattle plague, and inquired if the Government would lay that correspondence on the table.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, he had not had time to read all the correspondence, but he believed there was no objection to lay it on the table. With regard to those practitioners, they refused to appear before the Royal Commissioners, and the homoeopathic treatment having been tried in this country, and having been found to be no more satisfactory than what had been done by other practitioners, that refusal did not appear to be of much importance.

VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH

said, he had been informed by good authority in Brussels that the report disparaging the treatment of the two practitioners to whom he had alluded was drawn up by certain veterinary officers employed by the Belgian Government who were strongly opposed to homoeopathy. He regretted, therefore, that Her Majesty's Government had published that report in this country. To say that the treatment pursued in Norfolk was the homoeopathic treatment was not correct. The treatment of the plague by the practitioners in Belgium had some of the features of homoeopathy, but was quite different from the homoeopathic treatment which had been adopted in this country. He thought the Government was wrong in throwing cold water on experiments made with a view to cure this destructive disease.

EARL SPENCER

said, he had been mixed up in the matter, and therefore rose to corroborate the statement of the noble Earl the President of the Council, that these gentlemen had refused to be examined before the Royal Commission, although the Commissioners were ready to examine their mode of treatment. He had subsequently received a letter from our Minister at Brussels suggesting that these gentlemen should he again brought over to this country; and his reply was that if they would come over to this country, and would consent to be examined by the Royal Commission, not only would their expenses be paid, but they would be handsomely rewarded for every animal they cured. This offer was declined. He believed that the Dutch Government had expressed an opinion that the treatment adopted in that country was not successful.