Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries whether he has issued an Order amending the Foreign Animals Order of 1910 by extending the time for the slaughter of imported cattle from 10 to 20 days; whether he is aware that owing to the limited accommodation at the ports for housing such cattle this extension of time will act as a further restriction instead of facilitating the importation of Canadian cattle for slaughter; and, whether he will consider the immediate rescinding of this Order so as to maintain the food supplies of the industrial areas?
The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The extension of time was necessitated by a strike of slaughtermen at Birkenhead which rendered it impossible to secure the slaughter of the cattle at that port. I understand that the strike is now settled and I shall be prepared to rescind the amending Order in question as soon as the cattle at present at, the ports have been disposed of.