§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any official information showing that the operations 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 have affected the prices of raw hides in London; and whether the Leather Trust of America controls the exports of leather from that country, and has been established by the combination known as the Beef Trust?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Churchill)There has been an undoubted tendency towards an increase in the price of hides, but I have no official information that this is attributable to the cause suggested by my hon. Friend. I understand that the United States Leather Company, which is a consolidation of a number of leather manufacturing firms of some years' standing, occupies a predominant position in the 921 United States leather trade, but I can make no precise statement as to its business relations with the beef exporting firms.
Mr. BOWER MANasked whether the right hon. Gentleman has received any official information be the effect that the United States companies engaged in the beef tirade in the United Kingdom had lately issued £11,300,000 of new capital to be used in obtaining further control of the Argentine cattle and beef markets?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLinformation has been received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington to the effect that the companies referred to have recently raised a large amount of new capital, but I have no official information which would enable me to confirm the statements made as to the exact amount or the purpose for which it is intended.
§ Mr. BOWERMANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is possible to get official information?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have given some attention to the subject, but I have no official information.