CANADIAN CATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 18030, 26 July 1922, Page 4

CANADIAN CATTLE

THE BRITISH EMBARGO

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, July 24. In the House of Commons Mr W. T. Shaw moved' a resolution demanding the removal of the embargo upon tho importation of Canadian cattle. He declared that only trusts favored the maintenance of the embargo. It was all “eyewash” to say that the embargo was needed to protect herds from disease.

Mr Asquith said that he could not understand how anyone, after reading the proceedings! of the Imperial Conference, 1917, could 1 seriously maintain that, we were not in honor bound to redeem the pledge to remove tho embargo as speedily as possible. Sir A. Griffitli-Bcscawcn (Minister of Agriculture) denied that a pledge was given. He said that the value of British live stock was £500,000,000. The question was: Were wo prepared to take the risks? It was not only a question of immunity from disease, hut also of the maintenance of purity of breed. Agricultural experts regarded* the removal of tho embargo as a retrograde step. Tho Minister said that the agitation was for cheap meat. How on earth could 200,000 Canadian store cattle yearly (only per cent, of the country's consumption) materially affect tho meat prices? Mr Churchill supported the removal of the embargo, even if it damaged British agriculture to do so, on the ground that Britain could not afford to break faith with the dominions.

Mr Shaw’s motion was carried by 247 votes to 171.

The debate, although of a non-party nature, assumed importance.—A. and N.Z. Gable.