The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-10 00:00:00

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIBIAYA,

Mr. W. Stratton, South Wilts, on the report of the
Cattle Diseases Committee, moved :—" That in the
face of the extensive prevalence of foot and mouth
disease, it is, in the opinion of this Council, more than
ever urgent that immediate effect be given by her
Majesty's Government to the recommendations of the
Royal Commission on Agriculture, that the landing of
foreign live animals should not be pertnitted in future
from any countries as to which the Privy Conneil are
not satisfied that they are perfectly free from con-
tagious disease." It was certain that unleqs the
disease waa stopped or checked before cattle were
turned out to grass in May, the results would be most
disastrous.

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Mr. Bell, Newcastle, seconded the motion, and re-
marked that experience had taught them that foot-
and-month diseases were spread by contagion, and it
was for them to consider whether present regulations
were sufficiently effective, He maintained that the
present state of the country was a sufficient evidence
that they were not.
- -

Mr. Pell, M.P., said that the Government might,
in answer to such a resolution, meet them by asking
what they did in their own counties. In the greater
part of England cattle might be moved with the
sanction of the local authorities from districts infected.
If they were to be consistent, they would have to
carry out the same policy at home which they asked
for the movement of foreign cattle. At the same time
he fully agreed with the terms of the resolution. He
could not but observe the enormous jeopardy in which
our fond supply now stood from the spread of disease
to America. It might be carried over there by indi-
viduals, and he asked the country to consider what
would be the effect if by some misadventure the
disease should break out on the other side of the
Atlantic.

Mr. Chaplin, M.P., supported the motion, remark-
ing that it had been urged agaigst the motion that if
the proposal were carried out it would at once raise
the pr.ce of meat in this country 2d. or 3d. per lb. He
did not concur in this view, and pointed out that the
same argument was raised against the Cattle Diseases
Act, hut the operation of that Act had really tended
to reduce the price. The live cattle were only half et
the imports of dead meat, and what they were going
to interfere with was therefore only a fraction of
the whole consumption of meat. If there was any
prohibition against the importation of live meat, it
would almost certainly come as dead meat, while at
the same time the production at home would be in-
creased. These matters had been left out of the cal-
culations Of the Vice President of the Council when he
said that the price would be increased. His opinion
was that they could not expect to get rid of the disease
so long as they allowed live cattle to be brought in
from countries where the disease existed.

Mr. Heneage, M.P., said that all weirs agreed that
the present state of things was most unsatisfactory ;
but there was a misconception in the public mind in
regard to the steps which it was proposed to take. It
was a mistake to suppose that it would be the cause
of onbancing the price of meat. He suggested the
appointineka df kieieqt Carmittee of the House of
Commons, composed of the ropreaantativep of 411
classes, to take evidence as to the working of the Act
and the Privy Council's orders.
Mr. Browne, Essex, said that one of the great
sources of contagion they had to contend with was the
Metropolitan Market. He thought that they would
be checking the disease if imported cattle were killed
at Deptford, instead of being taken to the Islington
Market.

Colonel Paget, ALP., said that what thay had to do
was to try and convince others that they were right;
and, in the first place, they must try and educate the
Minister of Education, Mr. Mundella. He thought
the best way of commencing that work would be by
deputations from all parts of the country. He con-
firmed from official returns the statement that of the
value of dead meat imported far exceeded that of
the live stock of all kinds, including sheep and
swine. It would, he thought, be well to ask the
Prime Minister to receive a deputation upon the
matter, as it was of the greatest importance, both to
the general public as well r„s to agriculturists, that
they should not allow the subject to oleep. He also
thought that a deputation might wait upon the Metro-
politan Board of Works.

Mr. Sherwood, Suffolk, said that for every pound of
live meat imported from diseased countries, two
pounds of _home-bread meat were destroyed. While
he sold mutton now at ls. a pound he would be able
to sell it at a larger profit for 9d. per pound if the
disease were stamped out of the country. He main-
tained that it could be as easily stamped out of a
kingdom as out of a county, or even a farm.
Mr. Phipps, M.P., urged that in whatever discus-
sions were held in this matter it should be apart from
party politics, and one point should be po show the
Government that the farmers were in grim earnest.
The farmers were quite willing to have imposed upon
them restrictions to prevent the spread of disease in
this country, but they must have restrictions put upon
the
.13ittl!3 from abroad. It was from no desire to arti-
ficially ralie the price of meat all ti?ey sought for
was the protection of their Hocks and hord'2.

After some further discussion, the resolution was
adopted unanimously, and it was resolved to request
the Prime Minister to receive a deputation after
Easter.

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The following was also carried:—" That this Council
desiregt 11 attention to the serious effects of the
imported disease amongst horses, known as pink eye,
in certain counties in England, and urges on the ?rivy
Council the importance of taking such measures as
may be necessary to arrest its further progress,"

CORN SALES BILL.
The Corn Sales Bill now before parliamen as also
considered, and a resolution approving of the r.ioasure
was introduced at the instance of Mr. Bid&II (East
Suffolk),