§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that the number of imported and native cattle available for slaughter was constantly diminishing, and that the prices of hides and other by-products had increased during the last 18 months, whether he would, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Agriculture, cause inquiry to be made into the various schemes for increasing the supply of cattle imported for slaughter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. H. J. Tennant)I understand that it is not the case that the number of cattle available for slaughter is constantly diminishing, but I am aware that the prices of certain byproducts from slaughtering have for some time past shown an upward tendency. 1758 The latter part of the question appears a matter for the Board of Agriculture rather than the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the statement that the United States companies engaged in the beef trade in the United Kingdom, have lately issued £11,300,000 of new capital to be used in obtaining further control of the Argentine cattle and beef markets; whether, in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Combinations in the Meat Trade, especial reference was made to the position of the United States companies in regard to London and the country which such control would give; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the control of British beef and cattle markets falling into the hands of a Foreign combination?
§ Mr. H. J. TENNANTMy attention has been drawn to the statements to which my hon. Friend refers in the first part of his question, and I am aware of the reference to the subject in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Combinations-in the Meat Trade. I need hardly say that the matter will continue to receive my earnest attention, but I am not at present prepared to make any statement on the subject.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the rise in the price of raw hides in London has not been followed by a corresponding rise in the price of dressed leather;: whether he has any official information showing that the operation of the United States Beef Trust, in restricting the importation of live cattle for slaughter and reshipping the hides of imported animals to the United States, has affected the price of raw hides, or that the price of leather is affected by the importation of dressed leather from the United States, or that the Leather Trust of the United States controls the exports of leather from that country, and is a branch of the Beef Trust?
§ Mr. H. J. TENNANTI am aware that the prices of raw hides and of dressed leather respectively have not shown corresponding movements recently. I have no official information on the other subjects indicated in my hon. Friend's question, though it is evident that such factors as he indicates would be likely to affect 1759 the prices of hides and leather. I have no reason to doubt that some of the firms forming the Beef Trust are interested in the United States Leather Company.
§ Mr. BOWERMANIf the hon. Gentleman has no information at present, may I Ask whether he will be good enough to make inquiries?
§ Mr. H. J. TENNANTYes, Sir.