26 MARCH 1881, Page 2

Xr, Chaplin brought forward resolutions on Monday commit- ting the

House of Commons to the view that cattle imported from countries affected by the foot-and-mouth disease should not be permitted to land in the United Kingdom at all. Mr. Mundella replied that even if this plan were accepted and noted upon, Otero was co guarantee at all that it would be effeo-

tual,—since the disease might easily be conveyed in the dead meat,—while there could be no doubt at all that in the present. state of the trade, such a prohibition would inflict very heavy expense on the meat-consumers of this country. Indeed, it would cost us "'from three-fourths to two-thirds of the vast imports of the last few years, estimated at a money value of about eight millions." Many farmers had avowed that they preferred the foot-and-mouth disease, to the restrictions imposed. Moreover, there had not been enough reliance on precautions for separating at once the unhealthy cattle from the healthy at the port of entrance, for keeping drovers and buyers from any contact with the un- healthy cattle, and for disinfecting all persons who were leaving the port of entrance, and likely to carry the germs of disease into the country. Mr. Chaplin's resolutions were rejected by 205 votes to 147,—majority, 58.