§ Mr. DAGGARasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a communication from the Monmouthshire County Council containing a copy of a resolution passed by the council's agricultural committee with reference to the continued increase in the number of cases of sheep scab in Monmouthshire county; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation that will provide for placing the onus of the eradication of that disease upon the owner, with consequent penalties?
Mr. BUXTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part an Order was made in 1923 which placed upon sheep owners the onus of eradicating sheep scab from their flocks. It not only failed 357W to achieve its purpose in reducing the prevalence of scab, but owners were deterred from reporting the existence of scab in their flocks by fear of prosecution. The Order was therefore withdrawn in May, 1926.