704 



Importation of Canadian Store Cattle. [Nov., 



The scheme provides for the continued rearing and distri- 

 bution of nuclei, and, with the annual importation of Italian 

 queen bees, it is hoped that in a few years' time the bee- 

 keeping industry of this country will have been re-established 

 on a sound basis. 



The Et. Hon. The Lord Lee of Fareham, G.B.E., K.C.B., 

 Minister oi Agriculture and Fisheries, received, on the 

 Importation of ^^^^ September, a joint deputation from 

 Canadian ^^^^ Scottish Chamber of Agriculture and 



a*«,.« n„4.*i« ^i^e National Federation of Meat Traders' 

 Store Cattle. . • ^- , in. 



Associations, urging the removal of the 



existing embargo on the importation of store cattle from 

 Canada. 



Sir Isaac Connell, Secretary of the Scottish Chamber, briefly 

 introduced the deputation, and observed that since the ^Yar 

 there had been a distinct change of view on this important 

 question. 



Mr. J. E. Esslemont, a Director of the Chamber, in stating 

 the case for the deputation, recalled the fact that the exi sting- 

 prohibition was imposed by legislation in 1896, with the express 

 purpose of preventing the spread of disease in the herds of this 

 country. At the present time, however, not only was the- 

 position with regard to disease entirely changed, but also the 

 situation with regard to meat. Though, hitherto, this subject 

 had been del^ated from the contending points of view of the 

 feeder and breeder, it had now become a consumer's question. 

 As disease was non-existent in Canada, it was unfair to main- 

 tain any longer what was, in effect, preferential or protective 

 treatment in favour of one branch of the agricultural industry, 

 imder cover of an Act to keep out disease. 



It was admitted that the Canadian frontier of 2,000 miles 

 was no barrier against disease from the United States, chough 

 Scottish breeders, who were disposed to press this point, were 

 oblivious of their own protests when an outbreak of disease in 

 Yorkshire was considered likely to affect the export of pure 

 bred cattle from Scotland. ^Moreover, all pedigree bulls 

 exported to Canada had to pass the tuberculin test, leaving 

 bulls that did not pass the test to breed from in this country. 

 By removing the embargo we would therefore be importing 

 an even healthier class of cattle than our own. The supply of 

 beef would be increased, and an increased output in this, as 



