The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24. 1912. ANOTHER INDIAN PROBLEM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 35, 24 January 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24. 1912. ANOTHER INDIAN PROBLEM.

, ,One of the latest of, tho myriad new societies and associations which are ever being formed in that greht metropolis of the Empire—London—is the British Association for the Protection of Indian Cattle. Why such an association is required and what its objects arc, were explained by a deputation of three gentlemen representing the leading religious communities of India—Hindus, Moslems and Parsees—who arrived in England last month for the purpose of . bringing before the British public the consequences of tho Unrestricted slaughter of cows in India. It was pointed out that in India oxen and buffaloes are the draught animals of the peasantry, and the poverty of the agricultural classes, tho general smallness of their holdings, and, in places, tho nature of the soil render it impossible to look forward, at least, in the near

future, to the introduction of the costly implements employed in riche.! countries. The 'lndian farmer relies on bullocks, bulls, and bull buffaloes for his ploughing, and consequently, in contrast to Croat Britain and her colonies, cows almost exclusively are killed. The result is that the breeding of cattle is hindered, their numbers are diminishing, as is shown by the increasing price, and especially the prices of milk, butter and ghee, which are of far, more importance in the food supply of India than-of England, arc rising. The cultivation of the land is also suffering from the growing scarcity of draught cattle. A petition has been signed in India by 1,500,000 persons praying for legislation to restrict the slaughter of cows. Meanwhile it is suggested that the Government might do a great deal to check tho evil by ceasing to buy in India the 150,000 cows annually killed for the food of tho army, and by importing instead beef from Australia. It is emphatically stated that tho object of the proposal is economic, not religious, as is shown by the participation of Moslems and Parsecs, whose religion does not forbid the killing of cattle, though at the same time it is argued that the prohibition suggested would be extremely welcome to the Hindus and Sikhs. The matter certainly appears to be serious enough so far as India is concerned, and the suggestion that Australia should assist by supplying beef for the Army is one that might well be adopted, and whih it would save 150,000 cows per annum it would mean a new market for frozen moat.