§ 7. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has received a copy of any resolution passed at a meeting of North Essex farmers at Halstead to discuss Government requirements in regard to additional wheat sowing; whether the farmers demanded compensation from the Government before promising to under take this; and, if so, will he state what reply has been sent?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULUTURE (Mr. Acland)No such resolution has been received by the Board.
§ 8. Sir EDWIN CORNWALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the hardship inflicted on the poor by the enhanced prices of meat; whether he will state the nature of the schemes which the Board is now trying to organise to permit, subject to the prevention of accompanying disease, the importation of cattle from Canada and South America; and whether there is any cattle-exporting country on whose products there is at present no embargo?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe question of permitting or facilitating the importation of cattle for slaughter at the port of landing is now under very close and earnest attention, but I cannot yet make any statement about the particular nature of the schemes which are under consideration. The chief difficulties are means of transport, wharfage accommodation, risk of disease, and the cost of obtaining and transporting good animals. There is no embargo on cattle for slaughter from Canada and the United States of America, but owing to the existence of foot-and-mouth disease in the latter country the embargo would probably have been extended to it if any importation of live animals had been suggested in recent years.