The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-05-03 00:00:00

TIIE CATTLE DISEASES BILL.

In the HOUSE OP COMMONS, at a morning sitting,
the Committee on the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Bill having been resumed, Mr. Dodson moved the
amendment of which he had gix en notice in consequence
of the refusal of the Committee to strike out the Duke
of Richmond's amendment, and said in its favour that
though it would not leave the bill in the form which
the Government thought best, he believed it would
allow of the fair administration of the Act in such a
manner as would meet the views of both parties.
Mr. Chaplin was glad to find that the Government
had been able to devise means for proceeding with the
measure, and speaking for himself and many other
gentlemen, admitted that their views would be fairly
met by the amendment. Their contention was that the
presumption with regard to the importation of cattle
should be that foreign countries were dangerous so far
as the import of disease was concerned, unless the
Government were satisfied of their freedom from
disease.

Mr. Forster accepted the amendment as an improve-
ment of the bill, though he confessed he should have
preferred the measure in its original form.
Mr. Arnold could see no material difference between
the bill as proposed to be altered and the shape in which
it ante down from the Lords.
Mr. Broadhurst warmly denounced the bill as a
flagrant instance of legislation in the interests of a
class opposed to the interests of a nation, which would
inevitably increase the price and lessen the supply of
meat.

Mr. Cowen, on the other hand, as representing a
working-class constituency, gave a cordial support to
the bill, which he believed was in the interests both of
the working classes and the consumers generally.
In the course of subsequent discussion, Sir W.
Barttelot and Mr. J. Howard supported the amendment,
while Mr. B,ylands contended that legislation wa3
unnecessary; and Mr. Anderson, Mr. Jacob Bright, and
Mr. Bryce, as representing large constituencies, strongly
opposed the amendment, on the ground that it would
cause an increase in the price of meat.
Mr. Mundella pointed out that the bill as amended
would still give a large discretion to the Privy Council,
and that if it should have the prohibitive effect which
was predicted, it would be impossible for any Govern-
ment to maintain it in operation.

On a division, the amendment was carried by 357 to
48. A second division was taken upon the clause as
amended, which was carried by 313 to 50. Clause 3
was under discussion when progress was reported, and
the sitting was suspended.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

At the evening sitting, Mr. Brodrick brought before
the House the grievance of the elementary school
teachers who entered the service of the State before
the year 1851, especially in regard to the insufficient
provision made in the Education Vote for their

pensions, and moved that the present arrangement is
detrimental to the best interests of education and
requires the further consideration of the Government.
Mr. cland and Sir H. Holland supported the
motion, and Mr. Forster also thought that good faith
required that pensions should be granted to these
teachers. _ _ _ _

Mr. Mundella, while contending that the claim of
these teachers under the original minute was not a
legal one, announced that hereafter pensions would be
granted to all the teachers of this class, no matter
what money might be required.
Lord G. Hamilton hoped that the concession would
be extended so as to deal with the case of the teachers
between 1851 and 1661.

Mr. J. G. Talbot, Mr. L. Stanley, Mr. Whitley, and
Mr. Courtney spoke, after which the motion was with-
drawn.
The House was counted out at twenty minutes past
eleven o'clock, while Mr. Tomlinson was calling atten-
tion to commercial conventions between Spain and the
United States relative to the West India trade.