THE GOVERNMENT DEFEATED 27 



on 10th July to the continued importation of live foreign 

 cattle suffering from contagious disease, to the consequent 

 prevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease, and to the recom- 

 mendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, and moved 

 the following resolution : 



"That this House desires to urge on Her Majesty's Government 

 the importance of taking effectual measures for the suppression 

 of Foot and Mouth Disease 'throughout the United Kingdom, 

 and is of opinion that, while for this purpose it is necessary that 

 adequate restrictions, under the powers vested in the Privy 

 Council, should be imposed on the movements and transit of 

 cattle at home, it is even more important, with a view to its 

 permanent extinction, that the landing of foreign live animals 

 should not be permitted in future from any countries as to which 

 the Privy Council are not satisfied that the laws thereof relating 

 to the importation and exportation of animals, and to the pre- 

 vention of the introduction or spreading of disease, and the 

 general sanitary conditions of animals therein, are such as to 

 afford reasonable security against the importation therefrom of 

 animals which are diseased." 



This resolution was carried against the Government by a 

 majority of 8 votes. The Government, however, took no 

 action to comply with the resolution, but at their meeting 

 in November the Chamber noted that the vote in the House 

 of Commons had had some result abroad ; for from 24th June 

 until the date of this meeting in November only one cargo of 

 diseased animals was received. At this meeting the Council 

 unanimously recorded their regret at the attitude adopted 

 by the Government, and called upon them forthwith to pro- 

 hibit the landing of animals from infected countries. In 

 acknowledging this resolution the Prime Minister assured the 

 Council that any engagements made by Parliament would 

 be carried out ; but the Lord President of the Council asserted 

 the legal impossibility of carrying out the wishes of the Chamber 

 without further legislation. 



1884. 



The Cattle Diseases Committee of the Chamber was given 

 power to admit special members and to collect funds for its 

 particular work early this year ; and though it did not become 

 a separate entity it appears to have had executive powers, 



