§ MR. HALDANE (Haddingtonshire)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonics whether he can state the number and value of Canadian cattle imported into the United States from Canada, and the rate of duty charged by the United States thereon; whether the Canadian Government has addressed to the Home Government any remonstrances of recent date on the obstacles placed on the importation of Canadian cattle into this country; and, if so, what reply has been made to such remonstrances.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.) During the year ended 30th June, 1902, Canada exported to the United States cattle one year old or less to the number of 10,124, and the value of 124,497 dollars, and cattle over one year old to the number of 21,619, and the 14 value of 663,367 dollars. The United States duty on cattle less than a year old is 2 dollars per head, and on all other cattle, if valued at not more than 14 dollars per head, 3.75 dollars per head; if valued at more than 14 dollars per head, 27½ per cent. ad valorem. The Canadian Ministers made personal representations to the late President of the Board of Agriculture last year on the subject of the restrictions imposed on the importation of Canadian cattle, but I understand that no hope was held out to them that His Majesty's Government would propose any modification of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1896, which prohibits the importation of live cattle except for slaughter at the port of landing.