PROPOSED DUTY ON COLONIAL MEAT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1110, 31 July 1882, Page 2

PROPOSED DUTY ON COLONIAL MEAT.

The successful importation of frozen meat, from the colonies in general, New Zealand in particular, has already excited the jealousy of English cattle dealers. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, the 14th, Her the attention of Majasty’s Government had been called to the recent importations of frozen sheep, from New Zealand, and to whether, in the interest of the British producer and consumer, it might not be desirable to introduce a Bill to compel the retail dealers to specify the description of meat they were selling, and imposing heavy penaltities on any person who sold imported meat as home produce. Lord Sudeley said the Board of Trade had no official knowledge of the importation of foreign meat. The Government did not think it desirable or advisable to introduce any Bill affecting the subject. The Duke of Rutland remarked that there was no doubt that agriculture at the present time was in a depressed if not alarming, condition, and anything likely to benefit the agriculturists and enable him to contend with foreign competition ought to receive the early attention of the Government. The question has no doubt been shelved for the present session, but with a number of powerful landlords of the Duke of Rutland’s stamp opposed to imported meat, it will be odd if an attempt to impose a duty is not made ere long. I hope and believe, how. ever that such a movement would meet with little sympathy in the Commons. Apropos of the above, a weekly paper remarks : The fact, which we believe is undeniable, that Colonial meat is sold as English meat, is the best pos. sible proof of its excellent quality, but it is hardly likely that the Government will interfere to enforce honesty on the part of the butchers where no question of the sale of unwholesome meat is involved. It is manifestly unfair to British producers that ooL onial meat should be sold as Englishgrown meat. It is equally unfair to the consumer that he should have to pay Is per lb, for meat which he ought to get for 6d or Bd, and the oolonial, produce would be sold on its merits and the sooner they take steps to ensue the supply of the meat direct to ’ the public at legitimate prioes the better for all concerned