52 CATTLE DISEASES 



Scotland, some of the shipping interest and those concerned 

 with the trade in live stock, as well as a strong section of the 

 Butchers' Associations, were united in condemning the Act. 

 Their chief contention was the old theory, so much used by 

 the opponents of every measure promoted to check diseases 

 of animals, that it raised the price of the people's food. The 

 general election had made probably greater changes in the 

 House of Commons than any previous single contest, and, 

 with such a large proportion of new and unknown members, 

 there was no means of judging what view the new House 

 would take on this question. By the luck of the ballot, one 

 of the new members got a place, and introduced a Bill to 

 repeal this Act. There was reason to believe that Lord 

 Carrington had an open mind on the subject, but the cry of 

 " raising the price of the people's food " of course appealed 

 strongly to him, for it suggested " protection," and he 

 appeared to view the attempt of the repealers with some 

 sympathy. The Bill was the first Order of the day for second 

 reading on 6th April. On 6th March the Council passed a 

 resolution with only one dissentient (a Norfolk deputy) 

 asking local Chambers to urge their representatives in Parlia- 

 ment to oppose the Bill. 



On the same day one of the largest and most representa- 

 tive deputations ever arranged by the Chamber waited upon 

 the President of the Board to protest against any relaxation 

 in the restrictions enforced with regard to the importation 

 of live store stock. Every Agricultural Society of any import- 

 ance in England and Wales, as well as Ireland, sent repre- 

 sentatives to support the Chambers, and the deputation was 

 introduced by Sir Courtenay Warner, Bart., M.P. (Chairman 

 of the Chamber this year). Lord Carrington was greatly 

 impressed both by the size and the representative character 

 of the deputation, and by the moderation with which the 

 views of agriculturists were expressed, and was convinced 

 of the necessity of adhering to the Act of 1896. 



When the debate took place in the House of Commons 

 there was a large attendance for a private members' day, 

 and there were many anxious to speak. At five o'clock the 



