The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL FARLI.A.2IIENT

HOUSE OF COAIMONS.—THIS DAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

Lord B. MONTAGUE moved the second reading of the
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill. He stated that
since the bill had been intoduced the Government
had brought iu a bill of their own. He had no wish
to put his bill in opposition to that of the Government,
and Le did not think they would come into antagonism,
because they were totally distinct and separate mea-
sures, and did not trench upon the same ground. He
had suggested to the Government that the two bills
should be read a second time, and referred to the
same committee, but the Government were anxious
before assenting to such a proposition that the subject
should undergo full discussion in the House. He
denied that he had introduced the bill in the
interest of the cattle breeders of this country, but
on the contrary the question at issue was one
that vitally affected all classes. At the same time the
agricultural interest, from its extent and importance, de-
served full consideration. From the late return it appeared
that there were 431 million acres in the country either
under cultivation or baring stock., which at £4 per acre
—a very low average for the capital employed in agricul-
ture-gave a total of £183,000,000 employed in agricul-
ture. He contended that any bill which dealt na-rely
with the movement of cattle in England, without
giving security and making ragulations to pre-
vent the access of a new disease, would be one-
sided, and ought not to be adopted. The on'y way to
guard against contagion was to prevent contact between
foreign and Eng'ish cattle. If that were done, the trade in
foreign cattle might spread to any extent, and there would
be no danger to the cattle of this country. The bill pro-
posed that at all ports where foreign cattle were landed
markets should be established, that the cattle should b.
slaughtered as soon as landed, and should only be ftllowati
to go inland as dead meat. All the eb)ections which had
been raised against this scheme might be summed up under
one head, namely, that if separate markets were estab-
lished the price of meat would be artificially raised.
If that were really so ho admitted that it would be
a fatal oojection, but he disputed the accuracy of the asser-
tion. During the cattle plague separate markets were
established, on the 11th October, 1867, at Liverpool, Mau-
chaster, Birmingham, Southampton, and in the metropolis.
In 1863 the highes price of meat in Liverpool was lid per lb,
and the lowest sd. Moat then rose throughout the coun-
try, and was at its highest in the beginning of 1866, when
it began to fall again. The present bill would, he be-
lieved, have the effect of getting rid of the middleman and
his profits, by making thelwholesale prices hi3her and the
retail prices lower.
Mr. HEAD LAM opposed the bil!, and moved its ro-
j ection.

After a long debate the house divided, when there

appeareJ—

For the bill

Against it 253
Majority against the bill
UNIVEIZSITY TESTS BILL

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL moved the second read-
ing of this bill, the object of which was to remove cer-
tain religioug tests required to be taken prior to
the ca,udidate becoming qualified to take up degrees in the
great univere.ities. The hon. and learned gentleman s .id
the bill was identically to the same effect as that he intro-
duced last year.

Mr. MOIVIIRAY opposed tke motion, and moved that
the bill be read a second time that day six months. He
said those on his sido of the house were quita ready to ac-
cept the Cambridge compromise, but they were not
posed to go a step further.

Sir R. PALMER moved the adjournment of the debate.
The motion was agreed to, and the resumption of the
debate was fixed for to-morrow, the bon. and learned
gentleman undertaking not to bring it on after half-past
ton o'clock.

The house shortly afterwards adjourned.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

WESTMINSTER.

A DISGRACEFUL RUFFIAN.—WiIIiam Phillips, aged 16,
was charged with wilfully damaging his mother's pro-
perty.

The mother, a poor widow, said—l can do nothing with
this boy, and he has ruined me. He has broken every-
thing in my place this morning, and he has struck me be-
fore this.

Defendant —Yes ; she's always a saying this sort of
thing. I come home from a hard day's work, ask for a
cup of tea perhaps, when she goes to come at me
I up's with a chair to prevent it, she runs into it and hurts
herself, and then says I did it.
Mr. Mansfield—ls there any body here who knew any..
thing about the case?
The landlady of the mother's house—l know this chap
he is the very terror of the neighbourhood, and ill uses
hi 9 mother shamefully.
Inspector Varnals—He won't work ; there's no doubt
about that. He has been for a long while lurking about
the streets with the very worst description of characters,
and is a very violent fellow.

Mr. Mansfield—Has he ever been charged with ill-using
his mother ?

inspector Varnals—He has been charged three or four
times, but his mother has not liked to appear against him,
and he has been let off. Ho had a warrant against him
only a short time ago.
Mr. Mansfield—l shall commit hint for two months to
hard labour in the House of Correction.