Pig Stirs Commons

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 226, 25 September 1935, Page 12

Pig Stirs Commons

FINE CHARACTER EARNS SPECIAL ORDER.

LONDON, July 31

An Australian pig has caused an unwonted Hurry, including a Government com erutice, cab' grams, interviews, elaborate Parliamentary proceedings, quarantine measure, and blood tcsis, the culmination being an acknowledgement iu The House of Commons of its arrival with procedure almost equalling the solemnity of new legislation. Tne story emerged from Parliamentary papers, which contained an order, under the Diseases of Animals Act, regularising the importation of “one pig.”

The Ministry for Agriculture : explained to a Courier-Mail representative that a cablegram from Australia in Juno sought the admission of a pig. The Customs later advised that the pig had arrived on board the steamer Australia Star. Destined for Tour. Mr Geoffrey Hope, the owner of the pig, visited tho Ministry, auu was informed, after a long discussion, that the Jaw banned tho importation of live pigs owing to risk of disease. Mr Hope successfully pleaded that the pig possessed character and personality, and was destiued to tour England, and sit at a table and cal meals in music halls, and his (Mr Hope’s) livelihood depended ou tins. He submitted photographs, showing that the pig was a freak, and of stunted growth. The depantment decided to regard the case as exceptional, and authorised the landing of the pig, subject to a blood test and 20 days in quaiautine. The pig is now luxuriating at the Siiverlowu quarantine station, ami might justifiably be proud, seeing that its entry into Britain was dependent on the combined wisdom of more than GUO members of the Mother of Parliaments. The Courier-Mail representative has been officially informed that tho pig docs not count iu Australia’s meat quota.