clxxxii Beputation to the Board of Agncidture, Kov. 4, 1892. 
we have absolutely no alternative but 
to withdraw, however reluctantly, 
that special exemption from slaughter 
at the ports of Canadian cattle which 
Canada has enjoyed so long. (Hear, 
hear.) An Order to that effect has 
already been signed, though with the 
deepest regret that the necessity 
should have arisen. I trust the efforts 
of the Canadian Government, which 
appears to be most patriotically and 
efficiently administered, will allow us 
to resume our trade with the Colonies 
once again under the conditions so 
long enjoyed by our fellow country- 
men on both sides of the Atlantic. 
But at the present time and under 
the present circumstances our duty is 
clear, and I regret to say that no 
other course is open to us under the 
law than to impose slaughter at the 
ports. (Hear, hear.) 
I hope it is not necessary for me 
to assure the deputation that this 
matter has been anxiously engaging 
the attention of the Board and its 
principal officers since the first 
rumours on the subject reached our 
ears. On the very day, September 17, 
when we ascertained that the disease 
was of Canadian origin, we took all 
the necessary steps to trace the 1,211 
head of cattle which had arrived from 
Canada, and to place the animals and 
the animals in contact under resiric 
lions. On the 18th, seventy-nine 
owners scattered over the country 
were served with notices, and 1,143 
out of the total of 1,211 head of cattle 
were traced. On October G the 
information before us satisfied us 
that whatever might be our obliga- 
tions under the law, we were bound, 
in fairness to those whose cattle were 
under restrictions, to relieve them 
from further inconvenience and loss, 
and we accordingly gave orders for 
the slaughter of the whole of the 
Canadian cattle. We made arrange- 
ments for systematic inspection of 
the lungs of the animals. 
In the meantime, the most urgent 
representations reached us from all 
quarters. We were assured by some 
correspondents that contagious 
pleuro-pneumonia had been abso- 
lutely unknown in Canada, that the 
law in the Colony made the introduc- 
tion of disease absolutely impossible, 
that if any disease was found in the 
animals it was brought on simply by 
exposure on the voyage, and that 
the disease was not pleuro-pneumonia 
at all. It was further suggested that 
there had been some error of identi- 
fication with regard to the animals ; 
and again, that if the animals really 
had pleuro-pneumonia, it had been 
contracted in this country. We felt 
it our bounden duty to thoroughly 
and exhaustively sift all the evidence 
brought before us, in justice to our- 
selves and in justice to the great and 
important interests concerned on both 
sides of the Atlantic. It was ob- 
viously impossible for the Board of 
Agriculture to recall the privilege 
which Canada had enjoyed for many 
years without the most complete and 
exhaustive consideration. I felt it 
my duty to take the opinion of my 
colleagues in the Government, and 
also to ascertain from the highest 
authority our legal position in this 
country. I am anxious to assure the 
deputation that no unnecessary time 
has been lost in this matter, and to 
assure those whose interests are 
affected that before arriving at this 
conclusion the most careful and 
deliberate consideration in our power 
was given to the matter. We regret 
the decision which has been forced 
upon us, but we felt that the adoption 
of measures for the security of our 
flocks and herds was a paramount 
duty which we had to fulfil. (Hear, 
hear.) 
The Duke of Westmikstee said 
that the decision of the Board would 
give the greatest satisfaction through- 
out the v?hole of the country, and he 
desired iu the name of the agricul- 
tural community at large, as well as 
in the name of the Societies repre- 
sented that day, to thank the Presi- 
dent for the action he had taken, and 
for his courteous reception in receiv- 
ing the deputations, and in giving 
them so full an explanation of the 
operations of his Department. 
The deputations then withdrew. 
r 
