HC Deb 20 October 1902 vol 113 cc228-30
MR. SCHWANN

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the late rise in the prices of meat, negotiations have yet been conducted and carried to a favourable issue with the Government of the Argentine Republic for the admission of live cattle for slaughter at certain ports in this country, due precautions having been taken before embarkation to inquire into the healthy condition of the cattle; and will he say when such admission will be allowed.

MR. CHAPLIN (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)

Before my right, hon. friend answers that Question may I ask him whether his attention has been drawn to the following paragraph in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry upon the question of remounts:— They (the horses) were all subject to final approval in Buenos Ayres, where they were collected in large cattle pens which had been erected for the storing of cattle, but which were then vacant owing to the existence of the foot-and-mouth disease. And whether, under those circumstances, the admission of live cattle from Argentina for slaughter might not inflict incalculable mischief on this country.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HANBURY,) Preston

The negotiations referred to in the Question are not yet concluded. Admission will be allowed when the Argentine regulations are such as to afford adequate security against the admission of diseased animals into this country. The hon. Member is, I presume, aware that both this year and last we have received more meat from the Argentine than ever previously—and that the first nine months of this year especially show a very large excess above the record of any previous nine months. At the present rate the imports of meat from the Argentine this year should be about 20 per cent, more than in 1899, the year before the ports were closed to live cattle.

MR. SCHWANN

But is it not the fact that the total imports of meat into the United Kingdom during last year show a considerable reduction?

MR. HANBURY

That may be true, but the fact that there has been a drought in Australia and a shortage of maize in the United States is no argument for doing that which would involve the risk of importing disease into this country from the Argentine.

MR. CHAPLIN

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an opportunity of discussing this question of the restrictions on the importation of cattle from Argentina before they are removed?

MR. HANBURY

That is a Question which must be put to my right hon. friend the First Lord of the Treasury.