THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
The Clerk of the Peace read the following letter to Lord Eversley:—
Home Office, Whitehall, Oct. 12. 1865.
My Lord,—I am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to inform you that it has occurred to him that it maybe desirable that the attention of the justices of the county of Hants should be directed at the approaching Quarter Sessions to the orders of the Lords of the Privy Council of the 22nd ultimo, with reference to the cattle plague.
Under section 19 of that order the justices acting in and for any petty sessional division (whether in ordinary or special sessions) can, by notice, make it unlawful for persons to bring or send during a specified time animals as defined in the order, or any specified description thereof, to any market or fair in their division. The power has already been exercised in several instances, but it has been represented to Sir George Grey that the advantage to be derived from it will be materially impaired if, while the power exercised with reference to some markets and fairs, no action is taken with respect to others in the neighbourhood.
It Is clearly desirable that the various local authorities should, as far as possible, act in concert, with a view to the effectual exercise of their power: and Sir George Grey will be happy to be the means of communicating, if necessary, between the justices of the county of Hants and other local authorities defined in the order, with respect to any proceedings which the parties may think expedient to take on this subject. As it is obviously important that ample information of any order made for the purpose of preventing animals being sent to any market or fair should be given to the public, not only in the immediate neighbourhood of the market or fair, but also in the districts from which the market or fair is supplied. I am to suggest that means should be taken for the widest possible circulation of such information by means of the chief constables of the county or counties concerned, or otherwise as the justices may think expedient. I have the honour to be, my lord
Your obedient servant,
T. G. BARING.
Mr. PORTAL said was it very desirable that uniformity should exist upon this matter in the several divisions of the county; for at one end he found fairs prohibited, while in another part no notice was taken.
Mr. DEVERILL thought markets should be included.
The CHAIRMAN—That is so.
Mr. BOOTH said he did not think they had any jurisdiction. In a place like Petersfield, where they had a large market fortnightly, it would be very hard upon the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, because, if they prohibited cattle being sent there, the price of meat would become very high. In fact it would be an injustice to them.
Mr. CARTER said Petersfield was not a municipal borough, and they (the Court) were quite competent to act. As yet there was no disease in that district, but in the next county— Sussex—there was; and he thought they should prohibit cattle being brought from any other or certain counties. He thought the cattle should from different districts be put in separate divisions and examined by a surgeon. The Court had no power to interfere with private individuals.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE could not quite see his way clear in this matter. They might by an order exclude any specified cattle from any specified fair or market. He thought the police should have power to act in the matter.
Mr. DEVERILL— Then it will ten times worse. The surgeons already know but little about it.
Mr. BERNARD—How long will the prohibition last ?
The CHAIRMAN— We make no order.
The following resolution was then agreed to:— “That it be an instruction to the chief constable, previous to the time of holding any market or fair in any division of the county, to bring the fact under the notice of the justices acting in petty sessions for that division, with a view to their making an order to prevent animals being brought into such market or fair, under the 19th sec. of the order in Council, of the 22nd of September, 1865, as to such justices may deem expedient. That the said chief constable do transmit to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State a copy of such order of justices, and the name of any other local authorities either within or adjoining the limits of that division.”