1000 



deputation wished to be informed what those interests were. 

 Before the War, it was known that the Irish Party in Parlia- 

 ment had used their political influence to prevent the raising" 

 of the embargo. On the other hand, the Canadian authorities 

 had stated that it was a matter of fiscal policy, and in this 

 connection the Imperial aspect of the question could certainly 

 not be overlooked. It was submitted that the only interests 

 not fully agreed were either political interests or the interests 

 of the British farmer, who, it was suggested, desired an 

 immoderate return on his capital. Reference was made to the 

 enhanced prices of both home-store cattle and home-killed meat, 

 and it was urged that, if the embargo were continued and the 

 Food Ministry's control of prices removed, the consumers would 

 be in a serious position as between the farmers on the one hand 

 and the Trust of meat importers on the other. The time had 

 now come either for the Government to keep its promise made 

 at the Imperial War Conference or to give some sound reason 

 which would appeal to the intelligence and understanding of the 

 general body of electors and citizens of this country. 



Mr. Henderson, Canadian Cattle Association, referred to the 

 statement that farmers were opposed to the removal of the 

 embargo, and pointed out that farmers did not constitute more 

 than 5 per cent, of the population. The only farmers who did 

 not want Canadian cattle were those who had never handled 

 them. The Scottish Farmers' Union and the Scottish Chamber 

 of AgTiculture were against the embargo; in fact, the only 

 people who supported it were a few breeders, whose objection 

 in Scotland on the grounds of disease seemed inconsistent with 

 their action in importing cattle from England, where disease 

 is known to exist at the present time. In the interest of food 

 production, a supply of store cattle was necessary to fertilise 

 the land; otherwise the production of cereals and potatoes must 

 seriously diminish. It was probable that as many as 200,000 

 store cattle per annum would come in if the embargo were 

 lifted. The situation would be met by the restoration to the 

 Minister of a discretionary power to admit live animals from 

 any part of the world. 



Mr. Brown, Dunfermline Co-operative Society, on behalf 

 of the distributive side of the Co-operative Movement, urged 

 that the consumer did not want imported meat. The price of 

 the home article, since decontrol, was. however, rising almost 

 beyond the reach of many of the working classes. He 



