§ 43. Lieut.-Colonel WINDSOR-CLIVEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information to indicate that any Canadian cattle imported into this country as store cattle are in reality fat cattle which, a few days after being landed, are sold as home-fed cattle, thus competing unfairly with the stock produced by farmers in this country?
Mr. GUINNESSCanadian cattle are subjected to a strict examination on arrival, and only those animals are licensed out of the ports as store cattle which can properly come within the definition of "stores" in Section 1 (8) of the Importation of Animals Act, 1922. The consignees undertake to feed these cattle for not less than 28 days before slaughter. Cattle which in the inspector's opinion are fat cattle are either slaughtered at the port or are consigned direct to abattoirs for immediate 1900 slaughter. The Ministry has no information as to whether the carcases of these cattle have been sold as home-fed cattle.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction as to the way m which licences are issued at the ports; and that many animals are classed as "fat" which might properly be classed as "store"?