Importation of American Store Cattle. 
•poa the Gulf of Florida, such as 
Galveston, thus obviating any risk of 
{coning into contact with pleuro- 
pneumonia. This proposal is specious, 
' ibecanse at the present moment, so 
Jar as we know, Texas and the neigh- 
jboaring States are free from pleuro- 
raeumonia; but I would point oat that 
I were «iima)s allowed to come from 
I jGabeston, the result would inevitably 
be a considerable movement of stores 
I from other districts to that favoured 
pott, which might soon deprive Texas 
I of its immunity from pleuro-pneu- 
monia. This danger is one which 
mast necessarily always exist, be- 
cause, as is well known, the American 
I Constitution does not admit of any 
State restrictions imposed by the 
Federal Government ; and it is always 
more than probable that there would 
not be that uniformity of action be- 
i tween the States concerned which 
I would be our only safeguard against 
the introduction of disease. More- 
j orer, there is the further danger to 
be considered, of the risk of intro- 
ducing the Texan fever into this 
country. Any one who has travelled 
in America must be aware what a 
terrible scourge that disease has been 
J to the district where it has appeared, 
and I for one, and I am certain my 
colleagues on the Council as well, 
I could not for a moment consent to 
any legislation which might lay this 
country open to its introduction. 
Passing from the question of dis- 
ease upon the other side of the 
: Ah antic, whence arises this inordi- 
nate demand upon this side for store 
stock? There are to my mind two 
prominent points connected with it. 
First of all, it is to a great extent local 
i in its character. There is, of course, 
a general scarcity of stores through- 
out the country, but it is only in 
certain corn-growing districts where 
the demand has reached its present 
acute stage. Secondly. I believe it 
is of a temporary nature. If we 
examine into the causes of the pre- 
sent scarcity of stores. I think it will 
be found to a very considerable 
extent to lie in the ravages which 
have been caused in recent years by 
cattle disease, and to the consequent 
discouragement which has been given 
to breeding. We are now happily 
free from foot-and-mouth disease, and 
I trust that the legislation now pro- 
posed may result in ridding us of 
pleuro-pueumonia. I am strongly of 
opinion that it will be better, even 
with some inconvenience, to await 
that result, than to endeavour to till 
the gaps which have been caused by 
disease in our herds by exposing our- 
selves to the risk of other disease by 
admitting animals from the United 
States. 
For my own part, I do not believe 
that this demand for the importation 
of American stores is of a purely 
spontaneous or disinterested charac- 
ter. It is, on the one hand, urged by 
the Americans themselves, and it is 
upon this side of the water mainly 
advocated by gentlemen who, how- 
ever great their stake may be in this 
country, have considerable interests 
in the United States, which very 
naturally cause them to be anxious, 
if possible, to open up an export trade 
from that country to this. But, 
natural as this action is on the part 
of owners of American ranches, I am 
not myself prepared, nor do I believe 
that the agriculturists of this country 
are prepared, to run the risks which 
we are asked to do at the bidding of 
these gentlemen or for the promotion 
of the interests of the United States. 
I earnestly trust that this Society and 
other agricultural bodies throughout 
the country may make clearly known 
to Her .Majesty's Government the 
feelings of agriculturists generally 
upon this point, and may urge upon 
them the extreme danger of listening 
to proposals of this nature. I beg, 
therefore, to move the following 
resolution : — 
L That this Council has ob- 
served with alarm the renewal of 
proposals for the admission into 
this country of cattle from the 
United States without being sub- 
ject to slaughter, and, in view of 
the serious risk which would thus 
be incurred of introducing dis- 
ease, desires to enter an empha- 
tic protest against any present 
relaxation of the existing regula- 
tions. 
2. That a copy of this resolu- 
tion be forwarded to the Board of 
Agriculture. 
The Earl of Fevershaii seconded 
the resolution, saying that, after 
