TRAFFIC IN DECREPIT HORSES. (Hansard, 27 September 1909)

THE EARL OF MAYO
I rise to ask His Majesty's Government when the Return relating to the export of decrepit horses, which was ordered by the House of Lords on the 29th of July, will be available. I merely formally put the Question and reserve any remarks that I may wish to make until after the noble Earl has given his answer.

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (EARL CARRINGTON)
My Lords, I have done my best to get the information that was asked for by my noble friend, but I regret that there has been a good deal of difficulty. In the first place the collection of information as to the export trade in horses rests, not with the Board, but with the Customs, and I am sorry to say that I find on inquiry that the particulars which have been kept by the Customs in the past do not enable them to supply the information moved for. I hope, therefore, that the noble Earl will agree to the discharge of the Order. But we quite agree that it would be very desirable that more complete records should be kept both by the Customs and by the local authorities in the future, and we are in communication 384 with them with a view to arrangements being made for the purpose; and if the noble Earl would be good enough to confer with me and give us his valuable advice on the subject, we should be very grateful.
Perhaps I may be allowed to say a few words as to what has been done to improve the character of this traffic in old horses since the question was brought up in this House on July 29. I said then that a special veterinary inspector would be appointed, and that was done the same week. We were fortunate enough to get a very suitable and practical man for the purpose, and he has worked with the enthusiasm which distinguishes the members of my Department. He has visited every port in this country from which old horses are exported and has had interviews with the local authorities concerned with the administration of the Exportation of Horses Order; he has made trips to the Continent in vessels carrying horses, and has visited the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent, and has made inquiries at Brussels as to horses sent there from the two last-named ports. He has interviewed the owners, or their representatives, of the vessels engaged in this trade and has also visited the collecting centres in this country and interviewed representatives of the railway companies carrying horses by rail to the ports of embarkation. Representations by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs and by my noble friend the Secretary for Scotland have been made to the local authorities concerned as to the administration by the police of the Exportation of Horses Order.
The result of our activities in this matter may be briefly summed up as follows. There is now more efficient veterinary inspection of horses prior to shipment and the administration of local authorities is more active. Shipping companies have issued instructions to their masters of vessels insuring the slaughter of any injured horse or of any horse which is not fit to complete the voyage. Humane killers—that is, mechanical masks—are supplied to vessels carrying horses, and arrangements have been made for more suitable and systematic watering and feeding, both prior to shipment and during the voyage. I trust and believe that the steps we have taken will prove sufficient for the purpose which we all have at heart; if not, I shall certainly ask for further 385 powers, which I feel certain both Houses of Parliament will have no hesitation in granting. I hope that that information is satisfactory.

THE EARL OF MAYO
The only remark I have to make is to express my regret that the collection of this information is not in the hands of the Board of Agriculture, because if it were, I am sure the Return would be granted at once. However, I welcome 386 the suggestion that the noble Earl has made that we might confer together on the matter. I shall be most happy to do so, and I quite agree that the Order for this Return should be discharged.