§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has considered the claim which owners of stock have for public compensation for the detention of their stock at Irish ports during the past season, none of which were even suspected of being affected with disease; and whether, having regard to the fact that the consequent loss from deterioration meant ruin to some owners, and that in many cases the unnecessary detention was brought about by an arbitrary official Order from this side, he will take steps for the provision of adequate compensation?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThere is no power under the Diseases of Animals Acts to entertain claims for compensation in respect of 717W losses said to be sustained in consequence of restrictions imposed under those Acts.
§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has received any complaints as to the manner in which Irish cattle detained at Birkenhead are treated, bulls, dairy cows, and all other classes of cattle being turned out and landed together on disembarkation; whether he is aware that, owing to the want of electric light, cattle disembarked after sunset are detained till next day for inspection, involving practically an additional day's detention; whether he is aware that cattle while detained under these conditions are frequently gored by one another and maimed, and sometimes killed; and, seeing that the result, instead of securing rest and refreshment for the cattle, results in cruelty to them as well as substantial depreciation in value, whether any steps are being taken to remedy this state of things?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWith regard to the first, third and fourth parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to questions on this subject addressed to me by the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on Thursday last. With regard to the second part of the question, I have already arranged for the Board's inspectors to be provided with electric handlights, which will enable the inspection of animals to be carried on after sunset, when necessary.
§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYfurther asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the inequality in the working of the twelve hours' detention regulation on cattle coining from different parts of Ireland—e.g., cattle shipped from Dublin to Holyhead, sea journey five hours, with added detention seventeen hours; cattle shipped from Dublin to Liverpool, sea journey ten hours, with added detention twenty-two hours; cattle shipped from Cork to Liverpool, sea journey twenty-two hours, with added detention thirty-four hours; cattle shipped from Dublin to Glasgow, sea journey thirteen hours, with added detention twenty-five hours; cattle shipped from Cork to Glasgow, sea journey thirty hours, with added detention forty-two hours; will he say what necessity exists for any detention in such a case as the last, seeing that the period of the sea 718W journey is more than the combined journey and detention in the case of shipments from Dublin to Holyhead; and whether he is aware that this differentiation is against districts in Ireland in the South and West which have been entirely free from disease?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that the time occupied in the transit of animals from Ireland to Great Britain varies widely in proportion to the length of the voyage between the several ports of embarkation and landing. The Order of the Board prescribes twelve hours' detention at the landing-place in all cases, in order that the animals may be inspected, rested, fed, and watered, and I am not prepared at present to reduce the period. I may add that according to my information the twelve hours' rest is proving especially beneficial in the case of animals which have been many hours at sea.