§ LORD BURGHCLEREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps, if any, are being taken to improve and increase the stock of cattle and horses in the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies. Your Lordships are, of course, aware that in consequence of the war a vast number of cattle and horses have been destroyed, and I suspect that the breeding establishments out there have become disorganised, if not completely destroyed. This is a question of the greatest importance to the prosperity of the new Colonies, and I desire to ascertain from the Government what steps they propose to take to restock the country with a proper supply of cattle and horses, and whether they have come to any decision as to the particular breeds of cattle best adapted to the climatic and other conditions of South Africa. Those conditions may make it necessary to import cattle from Australia and other parts of the world, but I venture to hope it may be found that there are hardy breeds at home, such as Herefords, available for the purpose. For some years past, cattle and horse diseases have been rife in South Africa, and it would be interesting to know what steps the Government have taken, or are going to take, to check, if not to thoroughly extirpate, these diseases. It is, of course, impossible to expect, owing to the disturbed condition of the country, that there should be an efficient Department such as our Board of Agriculture at home, but we should like to know what steps the Government propose to take to deal with this question. It is obvious that it will be necessary, for the prosperity of the new Colonies, to set up breeding establishments for horses. The native horses have been to a large extent exterminated, but I have no doubt that among the horses imported during the war there are many that would make excellent brood mares. I doubt, however, whether there is any adequate supply of sires, and I should like to know if the Government have any intention of importing or of encouraging the importation of sufficient stallions to secure a good breed
*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Earl of ONSLOW)My Lords, this matter has been brought to the notice of the Colonial Office, and by the Colonial Office to the notice of Lord Milner, through the Board of Agriculture, who have been in communication with some of the leading breeders of cattle and horses. Some generous and spontaneous offers have been made, and Lord Coventry has been good enough to say he will do what he can to assist the Department in improving the breed of cattle in South Africa. The noble Lord has correctly stated that a large amount of disease is prevalent in the new Colonies. Unfortunately, South Africa is a prey to all sorts of cattle diseases; but as the stock has been considerably reduced by the war, the moment seems to be propitious for concentrated efforts to stamp out these diseases, if not altogether, at any rate in certain quarters. The Government are considering whether they should not send out bacteriological experts to inquire into some of these diseases, which are little known anywhere outside of South Africa. They may, as the result of their experience, be able to suggest some manner in which we should be able to cope with these diseases. That is the first step to be taken. It is not possible to establish a Board of Agriculture in the new Colonies, but it is the purpose of the Transvaal Government to establish without delay a Veterinary Department. The Government are endeavouring to prevent the decrease of the stock in the Colonies, and have passed an ordinance, both in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, making it a penal offence to slaughter and offer for sale a heifer or cow for two years to come. That will not prevent any one from using their own heifers or cows for food. By that means we hope to maintain the female cattle which were left after the war. We are now purchasing and importing from the neighbouring Colonies and Dependencies stock that are, to some extent, inured to South African diseases. We propose also to obtain stock from distant countries where similar diseases exist. An importer has been authorised to bring 500 cattle from Texas, where the disease known as red-water exists. They are to be kept for three months at the importer's risk, in small lots in different parts of the new Colonies, and if at the end of that 1314 Period they seem to be inured to this disease, they will be taken over by the Government. I hope that before long a certain number of bulls will be imported from England. We do not think that cows would be of much use, but Hereford or Shorthorn bulls might be imported. I am happy to say that this is likely to be done, not by the Government, but by private enterprise. As to sheep, we are importing a large number of Australian sheep and some English rams. Then with regard to horses, we have retained from amongst the horses the War Office no longer require, 1,500 specially selected mares, and we have also purchased a certain number of stallions, fifteen in all, including six English, two having won Queen's prizes at Islington, one from Argentina, and six Arabs. We have ordered a further twenty-five from Australia. Besides these matters, it is proposed to establish experimental farms, and it is intended by these to show the Boer farmers how to combat the diseases incidental to the climate of South Africa. I hope that as a result of these experiments, which will not be costly, we shall be able before long to considerably improve and increase the stock of cattle and horses in the new Colonies.