1920.] Importation of Canadian Stoue Catti.e. 705 



in other commodities, would mean a redaction of prices to the 

 benefit of the consumer. There was, further, no better way 

 of maintaining the fertility of the land which had been brought 

 under the plough during the War tiian in consuming the 

 increased crop by feeding cattle. Assuming freights remain 

 as they are, imported stores would cost less than the present 

 price of the home-grown animal, and, when finished in this 

 country, would mean much better beef than the imported dead 

 meat, whilst the subsidiary occupations connected with 

 slaughter and the hides would result in material benefit to the 

 country in general. Finally, and most important of all, there 

 was the Imperial aspect of the question, which demanded the 

 removal of the existing restrictions in the interests of the good 

 relationship between Canada and the Mother Country. 

 ' Councillor T. Masheter, J. P., President, National Federation, 

 of Meat Traders' Association, in supporting, drew attention to 

 the great demand for fresh meat in contrast to that for the 

 imported article, and submitted that the existing shortage of 

 oattle and sheep in this country was abundant necessity for 

 increasing the supply of store cattle. There was reason to 

 believe that freights v/ould. in future, be considerably lower 

 than at the present time. 



Alderman F. A. Cox, President-elect of the Federation, 

 observed that it had been stated that the embargo was main- 

 tained in the interests of Irish exporters, and contended that 

 any such preferential treatment was unjustifiable. The 

 principle of the importation of cattle from Canada had, how- 

 -ever, already been accepted by the jNlinistry in connection with 

 Friesian cattle, and he submitted that the period of quarantine 

 then imposed might be considerably reduced in favour of stores. 

 The requirements of the United States for Canadian store 

 cattle would probably grow less and less, which would stimulate 

 the desire of Canadian exporters to find a miarket in the Mother 

 Country. 



Mr. II. A. Adams (Executive Committee of the Federation), 

 reminded the INIinister that it had been understood that the 

 embargo w^ould in an}^ case be removed at the termination of 

 the War. 



Councillor J. Edtcards (Executive Committee of the Federa- 

 tion), drew attention to the great and increasing demand for 

 milk, on the one hand, and for fresh meat on the other, and 

 submitted that these demands were irreconcila])le and could 

 not be met without the liberal importation of store cattle. 



