§ LORD TEMPLEMOREMy Lords, in making the Motion for approval of this Order I would point out to your Lordships that it is a direct consequence of the Eire (Confirmation of Agreements) Bill which was passed by your Lordships on the 17th of this month, and to which the Royal Assent was given the same day. The effect of the Order is to revoke the Cattle (Import Regulation) Order, 1933, dated December 20, 1933, made by the Board of Trade under Section 1 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1933. The latter Order, which came into force on January 1, 1934, prohibited the importation from the Irish Free State of any beef or veal or edible beef or veal offals and, except under licence, of fat cattle, store cattle, bulls showing permanent incisor teeth, and dry cows. The Order has continued in force since January 1, 1934. By article 3 of the 460 United Kingdom-Eire Trade Agreement dated April 25, 1938, which came into force on May 19, 1938, as provided by the United Kingdom-Eire Trade Agreement (Commencement) Order, 1938, dated May 17, 1938, the Government of Eire declare their readiness to co-operate in arrangements made or approved by the United Kingdom Government for the orderly marketing of agricultural products. The United Kingdom Government undertook that on the coming into force of the Trade Agreement, the Cattle (Import Regulation) Order, 1933, would be withdrawn and that thereafter imports of fat cattle, beef and veal from Eire would be the subject of discussion in the International Beef Conference, on which Eire is directly represented. There was also an understanding as to the numbers of store cattle to be imported from Eire.
By the Eire (Confirmation of Agreements) Act, 1938, it is provided that the power of the Ministers under Part II of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937, to make orders for ensuring the due making of subsidy payments under that Act shall include power to make orders regulating the times and places at which cattle may be imported from Eire into the United Kingdom, and making provision as to the routes to be followed by cattle so imported. The Ministers concerned have made such an Order, the Cattle (Import from Eire) Order, 1938, dated May 17, 1938, which came into force on May 19, 1938. Any Order made under Section 1 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1933, which was in force immediately before the passing of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937, is deemed to be an Order made under the latter Act, and the Order revoking the Cattle (Import Regulation) Order, 1933, has therefore been made under Section 13 of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937. I beg to move that the Order be agreed to.
§ Moved, That the Order, as reported from the Special Orders Committee yesterday, be approved.—(Lord Temple-more.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.