25 G Leport to the Amiual General Meeting, 



of outbreaks. Unfortunately, judged by the number of reported 

 outbreaks, swine fever has been even more prevalent during the 

 current year than in 1911, which was in this respect the worst 

 for many years past. The most serious feature of the year in 

 connection with the occurrence of contagious disease has been 

 the re-appearance of foot-and-mouth disease. After six months 

 of apparent freedom from the disease four outbreaks were de- 

 tected in the week ended 29th June, viz., two in Cumberland and 

 two in Lancaster. Between that date and the 8th of October 

 78 outbreaks were discovered in different parts of the country, 

 the counties involved in addition to the two mentioned being 

 Chester, Durham, Northumberland, Surrey, East and West 

 Riding of Yorkshire, Leicester, Somerset, Salop, Sussex, 

 Stafford, and Hants. In these 82 outbreaks 636 animals were 

 attacked. In view of the number and scattered character of 

 the outbreaks the country may be regarded as having narrowly 

 escaped a very great danger. The fact that the disease did not 

 spread to a greater extent testifies to the efficiency of the 

 measures adopted by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and 

 to the wisdom of the stamping out policy as applied to outbreaks 

 of this scourge. 



34. At a Special Meeting of the Council held on the 8th 

 October last, the following Resolutions were unanimously passed, 

 and copies were ordered to be sent to the various Agricultural 

 and Breed Societies and kindred bodies in Great Britain : 



" That while desiring to express their approval of the 

 action taken by the Board of Agriculture whereby the impor- 

 tation into Great Britain of Irish cattle was prohibited, the 

 Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England desire 

 to place on record their regret at the action of the President 

 of the Board of Agriculture in admitting Irish Store Cattle 

 into this country at a time when cases of Foot-and-Mouth 

 disease are reported from different districts in Ireland, thus 

 opening the door to the re-introduction of disease from 

 Ireland into Great Britain. They would urge upon him most 

 strongly in the interests not only of the breeders and stock 

 owners of this country, but of consumers, that the regulations 

 lately existing should be re-imposed until such a time as 

 Ireland is free from the disease." 



" That the Society join in the Deputation to be received 

 by the President of the Board of Agriculture on Wednesday 

 next, to present the Resolution passed at this meeting." 



On the 9th October the President of the Board of Agriculture 

 received a very large and influential Deputation representing the 

 Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Central and Asso- 

 ciated Chambers of Agriculture, the National Farmers' Union, 

 the Shorthorn and several other Breed Societies. The Deputa- 

 tion was introduced by the Right Hon. Henry Chaplin, M.P., 

 and the views contained in the first resolution were put forward 

 by the Duke of Devonshire, on behalf of the Society, and by 

 speakers representing the other organisations. The Council 

 regret that Mr. Runciman was unable to give effect to the views 

 put before him by the Deputation. 



