§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether negotiations were entered upon with the various Colonial Premiers during their recent visit to England with respect to the admission of live cattle into this country; and, if so, what arrangements were made with the Premiers respectively of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand on the subject.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HANBURY, Preston)The question of the importation of store cattle was not raised, so far as I am aware, by the Governments of Australia or New Zealand. It was discussed between me and the representative of Canada, when I stated that the prohibition was universal, that it extended to the store cattle of all countries alike, and was not regulated by any order of the Board of Agriculture, but was compulsory under an Act passed so recently as 1893. It was then suggested on behalf of the Canadian Government that the period within which cattle arriving at the ports might be slaughtered should be extended from ten days to a longer period. I at once instituted an inquiry into the practicability of this suggestion, the results of which are now under consideration.