36 CATTLE DISEASES 



a deputation to urge the importance of maintaining the regu- 

 lations requiring the immediate slaughter of all cattle imported 

 from Canada. Mr. Gardner replied that he was in possession 

 of the views of the Chamber, so the deputation was not- 

 necessary, and he made a public statement on the question 

 of importation which was deemed eminently satisfactory. 

 At the later meeting the Council expressed their satisfaction, 

 but Mr. Gardner was requested to introduce a Bill to amend 

 the Contagious Diseases Act of 1878, providing for the slaughter 

 of all animals at the port of debarkation except under very 

 special conditions. 



At this same meeting the Council recognised the appoint- 

 ment of a Departmental Committee on Swine Fever as evidence 

 that their contentions as to the necessity of dealing with 

 this subject were admitted. In June the Report of the 

 Departmental Committee was considered and found to be in 

 entire accord with the views which the Chamber had pre- 

 viously urged. On 13th June a deputation asked Mr. Gardner 

 to introduce a Bill to give effect to the recommendations of 

 the Departmental Committee. On 20th June Mr. Ailwyn 

 Fellowes moved the adjournment of the House to call atten- 

 tion to the delay in bringing in this Bill. The Government 

 resisted the motion, but soon after introduced a Bill, which 

 received the Royal Assent on 12th September. 



Anthrax. 



In October the Council expressed the opinion that if local 

 authorities could award the owner the market value of the 

 carcase of animals found dead from anthrax, it might be the 

 means of securing an early notice of an outbreak. As this 

 award need not in any case exceed 1, they suggested that 

 the Board should grant this power to all local authorities. 



1894. 



Mr. William Stratton, who proposed the formation of the 

 Committee in 1872, and had been its Chairman ever since, 

 resigned office in March of this year. Mr. B. St. John Ackers, 

 who had been a member of the Committee since its formation, 

 was elected to succeed him. 



