394 



Questions in Parliament. 



[JULY, 



QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. 



Foot-and-Mouth Disease. — In reply to a question by Captain Coote, 

 the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated that the Ministry 

 was aware that in a few cases individuals would prefer to run the risks 

 involved by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease rather than have 

 their stock slaughtered, but the general opinion of agriculturists was 

 strongly on the side of the policy of stamping out adopted by the 

 Ministry, as may be seen from the Report of the Departmental Com- 

 mittee on the subject in 191 2. The disease was not directly dangerous 

 to the public health, and, as a rule, horned stock would recover from it ; 

 but the disease was highly contagious, and any widespread outbreak 

 might have a serious effect upon milk production. In certain cases 

 where the circumstances were favourable the Ministry had successfully 

 carried out a policy of isolation, but such a method was rarely applicable 

 because of the lack of suitable accommodation on the ordinary farm, 

 and would not be effective as a general policy. As a rule, an outbreak 

 was detected at an early stage, and it was more economical for the 

 industry as a whole to proceed to slaughter than to attempt a system 

 of isolation, especially in view of the fact that the export of pedigree 

 stock to foreign countries, which was a very valuable trade, was seriously 

 hampered so long as foot-and-mouth disease existed in this country. 

 The policy of the Ministry had been completely successful in checking 

 the spread of the disease in the numerous outbreaks that had occurred 

 of late, and had earned for the Ministry the thanks of the farmers in 

 the districts affected. (28th June, 1920.) 



Pig'-Keeping'. — In reply to a question by Sir Beville Stanier, the 

 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated that the Ministry of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries Act, 191 9 (Section 8, Sub-section 4) provided 

 that County Agricultural Committees should make such inquiries 

 as they considered desirable with a view to formulating schemes for 

 the development of rural industries and social life in rural places. The 

 Ministry had formed a Rural Industries Branch under the direction 

 of Sir John Green. Active steps were being taken to encourage and 

 to revive the keeping of pigs and other small live stock among cottagers, 

 and no less than 123 mutual clubs or societies for the purpose had already 

 been formed. The question of insurance of live stock by cottagers 

 had been investigated, and rules for the mutual insurance of pigs 

 and cows had been printed and circulated. Grants from the Develop- 

 ment Fund had been given to the Federation of Women's Institutes 

 and to the Village Clubs Association for the purpose of assisting the 

 establishment of women's institutes and village clubs. (28th June, 

 1920.) 



Wheat PrJces. — In reply to a question by Mr. McNeill, the Parlia- 

 mentary Secretary to the Ministry stated that the figure of 685. per qr. 

 for wheat was the amount which in the opinion of the Royal Com- 

 mission on Agriculture represented the average bare cost of production 

 in 1 91 9, including interest on capital or remuneration to the farmer 

 himself. The Commission in its report stated that it arrived at this 



