§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give any information as to the extent the practice obtains of shipping Argentine live cattle to Belgium and killing for the sale as fresh meat in Great Britain?
Mr. GUINNESSThe trade from the Argentine to Belgium, in cattle for slaughter at Zeebrugge and sale as fresh meat in Great Britain, commenced on the 11th March last, when the first cargo arrived from Argentina. The number and size of all the cargoes to date are:
Ex s.s. "Louis," arrived 11th March 296 cattle Ex s.s. "Talisman," arrived 2nd April 244 bullocks Ex s.s. "Talisman," arrived 2nd April 118 sheep Ex s.s. "Anderton," arrived 12th April 292 cattle Ex s.s. "Roi Leopold," arrived 2nd May 259 cattle Ex s.s. "Patagonier," arrived 11th June 348 cattle Total on five vessels in three months 1,439 cattle 118 sheep Under the Importation of Carcases (Prohibition) Order of the 2nd instant, this trade will cease after the arrival of a sixth consignment which left Argentina on 31st May, and before the Order was issued.
The casualties in the above cargoes were heavy, namely:
On s.s. "Louis" 4 cattle On s.s. "Talisman" 6 cattle On s.s. "Talisman" 5 sheep On s.s. "Anderton" 7 cattle On s.s. "Roi Leopold" 41 cattle Total 58 cattle 5 sheep I understand that the carcases were thrown overboard, but I have no information as to the cause of these casualties, and I have no control over the manner in which these live cattle are carried across the ocean. It is significant that the sale in Belgium of the carcases and offal is prohibited by Belgian Decree on account of the risk of introducing disease into Belgium.