THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY, in rising to ask the Lord Privy Seal whether the Board of Agriculture would grant special licences, after full inquiry, to pedigree cattle entered for the approaching spring 1503 sales at Perth, Inverness, and elsewhere, although such cattle may be located in counties now scheduled under the "Pleuro-pneumonia Order," said: My Lords, the breeders of pedigree cattle throughout the country are very seriously inconvenienced by the scheduling of whole counties under the Pleuro-pneumonia Order, and the question which I have to put to my noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal is, whether certificates could not be granted for those cattle to attend the Spring Sales? I may explain, in a few words, the reason for this demand. The breeders rely upon these Spring Sales for getting rid of their animals. Unless breeders are able to send them to the annual sales throughout the country, which are looked forward to for that purpose, breeders are unable to sell the animals they have bred, and the loss thereby caused to them is considerable. I do not wish it to be considered that I put this question in any way antagonistic to the Board of Agriculture, who, I am sure it will be recognised, are taking very, vigorous means for stamping out pleuro-pneumonia; but it is known that among these pedigree herds there has been no case of pleuro-pneumonia, and that it is very unjust, therefore, to include them in the scheduling of counties. If proper inquiry is made they might, with perfect safety, be brought to these sales, and transmitted under certificates to any place to those persons who have purchased them. This assists both ways, because not only would bulls entered from places which are not scheduled at auctions held in scheduled districts be allowed to be removed, but it would permit the movement of such animals within the scheduled country. I most earnestly hope that the President of the Board of Agriculture will be able to see his way to giving this relief to breeders of pedigree cattle, who will otherwise suffer serious loss. I beg to put the question which stands in my name.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN)My Lords, the Board of Agriculture have carefully considered the question to which the noble Marquess has referred, but they are unable to grant the special licences for the purpose of enabling cattle in an infected district, which is scheduled under the Pleuro-pneumonia Order, to be exposed for public sale 1504 beyond the limits of such district. To concede what my noble Friend asks would be tantamount to revoking the Order for all practical purposes. The Order is essential for carrying out the Pleuro-pneumonia Act. If I understand the question of my noble Friend aright, he proposes to bring cattle to sales from all parts of the country, in several instances from parts adjacent to those where pleuro-pneumonia is already in existence.
THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLYNo; certainly not. On the contrary, I should desire to be very careful that no animals should be brought from an infected circle.
§ EARL CADOGANBut, under such circumstances, it would be impossible for the Board to say that any sale could be, held without risk of infection. Certificates might be asked for cattle which had been exposed to danger, though apparently healthy, and the Board would not be justified in granting licences to place outside a scheduled district cattle which had been exposed to that danger. I may mention that for purposes of breeding the Board have already indicated their willingness to give special, movement orders for pedigree bulls, to be transferred from one district to another, but only after special examination, and in special cases.
THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLYThe last part of the noble Earl's answer really comprises all I ask with regard to pedigree bulls; but in the North we cannot understand what has to be done. That was the very object of my question. Perhaps the noble Earl will promise that, directions or orders will be promulgated, so as to inform pedigree breeders what is required?
§ EARL CADOGANI am afraid, from information which I have received from the President of the Board of Agriculture, that I can give no promise whatever to the noble Marquess, nor can I hold out any hope to him that his request will be acceded to.