676 Importation of Canadian Store Cattle. [Nov., 



however, he feared that some farmers would go under and that 

 there would be much unemployment and distress among the 

 labourers, but he could honestly say that he had not failed to 

 bring the position in all its gravity before his colleagues. 



As a member of the Government he would add one word. It 

 was not true that the present Government had neglected agri- 

 culture. Only this year we had altered the assessment for 

 income tax in the interest of the farmer, which he knew 

 brought substantial relief in many cases, and we had remitted 

 the duty on home-grown sugar in order to stimulate a new and 

 valuable industry. Then, we were spending very large sums 

 on agricultural education and research, which had in the past, 

 and would still more in the future, help to reduce the cost of 

 production. These were sound lines to proceed upon, and he 

 did not know what more could be done at the present, except 

 in the direction of those reforms to which he had alluded. 



One word in conclusion. He had pointed out that agricul- 

 turists in this country were in a minority; then by all means 

 let them stand together. The interests of owner, farmer and 

 labourer were identical, yet too often we found them pulling 

 against each other. There was, however, certainly a tendency 

 to come together now, which was largely due to the action 

 of the National Farmers' Union. Unless they all stood to- 

 gether, they would not have much chance of making their 

 voices heard, and he would advise : keep agricultural policy and 

 party politics quite apart. The National Farmers' Union did 

 this, and he could fairly say that while he had been Minister, 

 he had never approached agricultural questions from a party 

 point of view. With regard to the labourers, it was a matter 

 for regret that their Unions were tied to one political party. 

 He did not say this out of any disrespect for the leaders of the 

 Unions, for many of whom he had great respect, but it could 

 not be good that the interests of agricultural labour should be 

 identified with a political party. 



In consequence of the resolutions adopted by the House of 

 Commons on 24th July and by the House of Lords on 26th 

 I t tion of e ^ u ty' a Conference was held at the Colonial 

 Canadian Store ^^ ee on ^ n October between representa- 

 Cattle ^ VGS °^ Government and of the 



Canadian Government to discuss the admis- 

 sion of Canadian cattle. Mr. Churchill presided, and in addition 

 there were present Sir Arthur G. "Rosea wen. Minister of Agri- 



