§ MR. CAIRNS (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I beg to ask the Prime Minister, whether, with a view to removing apprehensions as to the effect of the free importation of Canadian cattle into this country, he will cause to be sent to Canada as promptly as possible a Commission to inquire into the condition of the Canadian herds and other circumstances bearing upon the question, and so accede to the oft-repeated request of the Dominion Government, who, along with the people of Canada, resent the stigma cast upon their herds by our present prohibitive law.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Is it in order for an hon. Gentleman to make a statement of fact in a Question as in this case—viz., that the "people of Canada resent the stigma."
§ *MR. SPEAKERI take it to be merely the opinion of the hon. Member for Newcastle, not an authoritative statement.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Government do not think it is necessary to adopt my hon. friend's suggestion. They are quite prepared to accept the official reports of the Canadian Government as to the health of the herds of the Dominion and consequently they do not consider that any investigation on their own account is required. My understanding is that the statutory prohibition of importation is regarded as a precautionary measure, the justification 153 for which does not depend entirely upon whether or not any particular country is free from disease at any particular time.