19-21.] 



1001 



thoroughly agreed with what had been said by previous 

 speakers, and hoped that the Government would see its way 

 to remove an embargo which co-operatives considered was 

 unjust to Canada. 



Bailie Walker, representing the Glasgow Corporation, said 

 that in that town there existed a great industrial population 

 which was continually clamouring for home-grown meat, 

 whereas 50 per cent, of the meat consumed was imported. A 

 wharf had been built on modern lines for the reception of 

 foreign animals, but the only animals which had as yet been 

 landed there came from Ireland. If live cattle were admitted 

 instead of frozen carcasses, not only would it reduce the cost of 

 living but the valuable hides and offals would be available for 

 the establishment of new industries in this country. In the 

 interests of our great industrial masses, the embargo should be 

 removed, even if the agricultural interest suffered to the 

 exaggerated extent that was claimed. 



Lord Lee, in reply, drew attention to the sharp difference of 

 opinion which existed with regard to this important question. 

 So far, however, as the representations which had reached the 

 Ministry from responsible agricultural bodies were concerned, 

 the agricultural interest of this country, at any rate of England 

 and Wales, was overwhelmingly against the removal of the 

 embargo. In any event, the matter did not rest within the 

 executive discretion either of the Ministry of Agriculture or 

 of the Government, as the removal of the embargo would 

 require fresh legislation. In this connection and as an instance 

 of the attitude of, at any rate, one House of Parliament, a 

 private Bill was brought forward in the House of Lords last 

 session, which proposed to deprive the Minister even of the very 

 limited discretion at present conferred upon him by statute of 

 admitting very exceptional animals of high pedigree value. 

 Though opposed by the Government, the Bill was carried 

 through the Upper House. This showed that the problem was 

 not so simple as was represented, nor could the embargo be 

 removed by a stroke of the pen. The Ministry had publicly 

 endorsed the clean bill of health to which Canadian cattle were 

 entitled, but Canada was not the only exporting country, and 

 if legislation were proposed it would be impracticable to limit 

 its operation to Canada alone. Primarily, of course, the 

 Ministry had to regard this matter from the point of view of 

 the interests of agriculture, but it was not oblivious to the other 



