BRITISH EMBARGO.

Grey River Argus, 26 July 1922, Page 5

BRITISH EMBARGO.

ON IMPORTED CATTLE. VESTED INTERESTS UPHOLD IT. (Received July 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 24. In the House of Commons, Nir William Shaw moved a resolution demanding the removal of the embargo upon the importation of Canadian cattle. Ho declared that only the trusts favoured the maintenance of the embargo. It was all “eyewash” to say this embargo was needed to protect the herds from disease. Mr Asquith said that he could not understand how anyone reading t”e proceedings of the Imperial Conference of 1917 could seriously maintain that we were not in honour bound to redeem the pledge to remove the embargo as speedily as possible. Mr Griffith Bosca won denied that any pledge was given. He said that the value of British live stock was now three hundred millions. The question was were we prepared to take risks'? If was not only a question of immunity from disease, but the maintenance of Mie purity of the breeds. The agricultural experts, he said, regarded the removal of the embargo as a retrograde step. The Government were considering the point. Continuing the debate Mr Griffith Boscowen said the agitation against the embargo was for cheaper meat. How on earth, he asked, could 200,000 Canadian store cattle yearly (only two an I a-half per cent of Hie country’s consumption) materially affect the meat prices. Mr ChurM.ill said he supported the removal of the embargo, even if it damages British agriculture. He would 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 a non-party one. assumed importance.