§ MR. BOWERMANTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the prices of hides, standard quality, has risen from 3¾d. per pound on 20th February last to 4½d. per pound on 14th May, the highest price since November 1907, notwithstanding an increase in imports of wet hides of 66,000 cwt. in the four months ended 30th April, 1908, compared with 1907, and that the number of live cattle imported from North America has decreased from 152,795 to 131,971 for the four months ended 30th April, 1907 and 1908 respectively; and whether he will take steps to facilitate the importation of more live cattle for slaughter at the foreign animals wharves, and so increase the supply of hides.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I understand that the prices quoted relate to the "best ox and heifer market hides," otherwise the facts are correctly stated in the first part of the Question. With regard to the second part, I have already informed my hon. friend that the Board of Agriculture are not prepared to modify their regulations with regard to the importation of live cattle.