§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the expense incurred by the people of Ireland in their efforts to prevent the spread of consumption, he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the legislative provisions now introduced for payment for slaughter of tubercular cattle in Great Britain will be extended to Ireland?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department understand that as a measure complementary to the Milk and Dairies Bill for England recently introduced in Parliament, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries propose to issue an Order under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, dealing with tuberculous cows and providing for the payment of compensation in cases of slaughter by the local authority; and that the Treasury are prepared, subject to the assent of Parliament, to sanction the payment from the Exchequer of one-half of the net amount paid by way of compensation for a period of five years. If the local authorities under the Diseases of Animals Acts in Ireland,i.e., the county and county borough councils, are willing to slaughter tuberculous cows in their respective districts, and to pay compensation to the owners thereof out of the local rates, and if Parliament will agree to recoup one-half the amount so paid, as is the intention in the case of Great Britain, the Department would be ready to make an Order for Ireland under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1891, similar to that proposed to be made by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries?