1921.] Meetings op the Agricultural Council. 



773 



The Report of the Live Stock Advisory Committee on matters 

 referred to it at the Meeting of the Council of Agriculture on 

 4th March last, namely, (1) proposed legislation to secure the 

 registration of all bulls kept for service, (2) slaughter of calves, 

 (3) compilation of voluntary register of owners of pedigree 

 herds willing to supply useful class pedigree bulls at moderate 

 prices, to take the place of bulls rejected for the Ministry's Bull 

 Register, was received by the Council. 



At a special meeting of the Council held on 22nd November, 

 a Resolution on the subject of the importation of store cattle 

 from Canada was passed by a vote of 47 to 11. The Resolution 

 was proposed by Mr. H. German and seconded by Lord 

 Ailwyn, and ran as follows: — 



"That in view of the fact that the Royal Commission on the importa- 

 tion of Store Cattle : — 



(1 ) Declined to consider the question of Imperial policy as regards 



the food supply of the country in time of war ; 



(2) Admitted that the importation of Canadian stores would endanger 



the livelihood of crofters and small holders in the Highlands, 

 from which it follows that the much larger number of small 

 farmers in the North and West of England and in Wales 

 would also be damaged ; 



(3) Failed to deal with the question of the importation of live 



animals from other Dominions or from foreign countries who 

 might claim similar privileges to those proposed to be given to 

 Canada ; and 



(4) Stated that the possible advantages to the consumer would not 



amount to more than an uncertain tendency to a slightly lower 

 level of prices. 



This Council is of opinion that the existing policy with regard to the 

 importation of livestock is in the best interests both of producers and 

 ot consumers on the following grounds :— 



1. It provides for the maintenance of our home meat supplies, with- 



out the cost of a single penny to the taxpayer or the consumer. 



2. It affords the greatest encouragement to the development of 



stock-breeding and beef -producing in this country. 



3. It enables us to supplement these home supplies of fiesh meat with 



any available supplies of fat cattle which Canada or any 

 other country can ship for immediate slaughter. 



4. It strengthens our position in the world market and enables us 



to buy world supplies of refrigerated meat at the cheapest 

 possible price. 



The Council, therefore, respectfully urges the Government to make an 

 immediate pronouncement in favour of the maintenance of the present 

 system of requiring imported cattle to be slaughtered at the port of 

 entry." 



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