CO885-(18-19) — Page 610

40299

SIR,

(No. 39.)

111

No. 57.

MALTA.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

[Answered by No. 58.]

Downing Street, 24 March, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Major-General Barron's despatch, No. 124, of the 17th of July last, relative to the measures which have been taken in regard to Malta fever, and to inform you that copies were sent to the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Board of Agriculture for their consideration.

2. I enclose copies of the replies from the War Office and the Admiralty.t that The matter has been delayed because I was anxious to learn also the views of the Board of Agriculture on the subject, but owing to the pressure of work Department, I have been unable to obtain an official reply, and I am unwilling to delay the matter further.

3. It appears from the letters of which copies are enclosed that the steps which are already being taken for the suppression of Malta fever among the general population of the islands are inadequate, and I have to request that you will give further consideration to the matter with a view to seeing what measures can be instituted which will prove more effective.

I have, &c.,

ELGIN.

16546

(No. 77.)

No. 58.

MALTA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 9 May, 1908.)

[Answered by No. 61.]

The Palace, Valletta, 30 April, 1908. MY LORD,

1 HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your predecessor's despatches, Nos. 39 and 40, of the 24th and 25th ultimo,‡ in the former of which Lord Elgin expresses the opinion that the steps which have been taken for the suppression of Mediterranean fever among the general population of these islands are inadequate, and requests me to give further consideration to the matter, with a view to seeing what measures can be instituted which will prove more effective.

propose to 2. In reply, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I appoint a Committee of Official and Elected Members of the Council of Government to consider the matter. I desire, however, to bring to your Lordship's notice that the question of getting rid of infected goats is surrounded with difficulties.

3. Under the present law, the Government has no power to take samples of the blood and milk of goats against the will of the owner. The owners are now aware of this fact and refuse to allow samples to be taken, owing to which the Public Health Department is unable to ascertain whether goats are infected or not. This difficulty will, however, be removed by Article 28 of the Prevention of Disease Bill which is now before the Council of Government.

4. The cost of getting rid of all the infected goats will be very considerable, and even if this is done, there is at present nothing to show that other goats will not become infected. It is highly probable that the pens and other places in which the goats are kept contain the germs of the disease, and it may be necessary to clean and disinfect all the goat-pens in the island, which will involve still further expenditure.

5. As soon as the report of the Committee is received, I will forward it for your Lordship's information; but I desire to state that, whatever steps may be decided upon, I am strongly of opinion that any expenditure involved should be shared equally by the Admiralty, the War Department, and the Government of Malta.

• No. 122 in Miscellaneous No. 201.

† Nos. 126 and 125 in Miscellaneous No. 204. ‡ No. 57 and L.F. transmitting copy of No. 55.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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