VETERINARY DEPARTMENT CRITICISED 19 



Sewell Read obtained the appointment of a Select Committee 

 of the House of Commons early in the session, to inquire into 

 the operation of the Cattle Diseases Act and the constitution 

 and working of the Veterinary Department of the Privy 

 Council ; so the deputation was not arranged. Mr. Read 

 was one of the chief witnesses before this Select Committee,, 

 and on behalf of the Chamber Mr. Wm. Stratton, Mr. Thos. 

 Duckham, and Mr. J. A. Clarke (Secretary) gave conclusive 

 evidence as to the want of safeguards and proper arrange- 

 ments for preventing the spread of infectious diseases. The 

 Report of the Select Committee was considered by a Special 

 General Meeting in December, which expressed its profound 

 disappointment that the Select Committee had come to a 

 decision adverse to any stringent and systematic attempt to 

 repress foot and mouth disease, and declared on behalf of 

 the agricultural interest a perfect readiness to submit to such 

 restrictions as might be necessary to effectually keep that and 

 other diseases in check. This meeting also expressed its 

 opinion that, for the safety of home stock, the importation 

 of foreign live animals should be converted into a dead meat 

 trade. The Annual Report for this year says : 



" The weak and ineffectual conclusions arrived at by the 

 Select Committee as the result of all their inquiry (especially 

 the miserable decision that no change should be made as regards 

 foreign animals) are in violation of the evidence, and opposed 

 to every sound view of the steps which ought to be taken for the 

 sanitary protection of this kingdom." 



1874. 



The change of Government, brought about by the general 

 election early in the year, raised the hopes of those members 

 of the Chambers interested in Cattle Diseases, especially as 

 Mr. Clare Sewell Read was given the post of Parliamentary 

 Secretary of the Local Government Board. A small depu- 

 tation was appointed at the May meeting, to urge upon 

 the Lord President of the Council the importance of giving 

 effect to the views of the Chambers on this subject. The 

 reply of the Duke of Richmond was deemed eminently unsatis- 

 factory. No hope was held out that the Government would 



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