PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. 
517 
184,000 head of stock, which was the average importation of the last four 
years, we exposed 9,000,000 of cattle in this country to foreign diseases ; 
and for 560,000 head of sheep, the average importation of the last four 
years, we exposed 34,000,000 of our sheep to foreign disorders. The con- 
sequence was that the price of meat to the consumers had been greatly in- 
creased. Whatever might be the case with corn, the consumers of meat in 
this country had to look to the home supplies. According to the official 
returns of the Board of Trade the total home supplies of meat in towns for 
the years 1867, 1868, 1869, and 1870 were 4,856,000 tons, or on an aver- 
age per year 1,214,000 tons. The foreign supplies for the same period 
were — of live stock 56,000 tons, and of dead meat almost exactly the same 
amount, or 56,724 tons. The per-centage of the home supply, therefore, 
was 91| as against 4|- of live stock and of dead meat from foreign coun- 
tries. (Hear.) He could not understand why Belgium, where no disease 
existed, was scheduled, and why the right bon. gentleman, on the other hand, 
allowed the direct importation of cattle from Russia. The other day a 
cargo of beasts came direct from a Russian port, whence the disease was 
imported in 1865. It came to the Victoria Docks, and after twelve hours 
the beasts were sent to the Metropolitan Cattle Market. They mixed with 
foreign sheep, both at the railway station and in the market, and although 
he might be told that the latter were not allowed to leave the market alive, 
he was sure they sometimes did so. Another cargo of beasts came from 
Hamburg, but they were imported from Russia through Germany. They 
arrived with some sheep at Brown’s-wharf, and these very sheep went into 
the provinces. The Vice-President of the Council had extemporised a 
temporary water-side market, and Mr. Odams, who spent £12,000 in fitting 
it up, had not been very well used by the authorities. He provided a very 
good and sufficient place, and when more accommodation was wanted he was 
asked whether he would provide it. Mr. Odams thereupon spent £1200 
more in making sheds, &c., but in a fortnight the order was rescinded, and 
the whole of the stock for which this accommodation had been provided 
was allowed to go to the Metropolitan Cattle Market. The state of the 
foreign cattle market which was to arrive at Dead Man’s Wharf would, he 
trusted, receive the attention of his right hon. friend. The Corporation of 
London, after doing little or nothing hitherto, had now built ai wall to sepa- 
rate twenty acres of land from the Victualling Yard, Deptford. If, however, 
the new market were not ready by January 1, 1872, the Corporation would 
lose the monopoly of the market, and he hoped the Vice-President would 
insist on the Corporation keeping to their part of the bargain. He wished 
the right hon. gentleman had kept to the temporary market, and withdrawn 
the cordon, so that the inhabitants of Brighton and other places might have 
the advantage of coming to London and buying their stock. The House 
ought to encourage the carriage of dead meat for the sake not only of eco- 
nomy but humanity. A sheep might be sent into Staffordshire for 10d., 
and from London to Manchester for Is. a head, including the skin and offal. 
Even lamb, that most perishable meat, he had himself been sending in large 
quantities to the London market. He believed that, instead of a member 
of that House going bawling about the country, and calling for economy, it 
was far better to put his finger in that House upon some item of unecono- 
mical expenditure with which he might be acquainted. He trusted that the 
House would grant the inquiry for which he asked. It need only be a short 
one. Three or four sittings of the committee would be sufficient either to 
prove or disprove his case. The hon. member concluded by moving, “ That 
a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the cost, constitution, and 
working of the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council.” (Hear, 
hear.) 
XLIY. 37 
