BONELESS BEEF IN GLASGOW

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 278, 18 November 1908, Page 4

BONELESS BEEF IN GLASGOW

BUTCHERS PERPLEXKD. I Chaos reigns in the boneless beet' trade at lioiue. Writing concerning the. recent sweeping condemnations ot New Zealand and other boneless beef by Inspector Trotter, the Scotch cnrr<\--pondeut of the "Meat Trades Journal," says:—"Roneh'ss beef is still the topic of general interest in Glasgow. There have been strange happenings during the past week. Seizures have been made in the cold stores, in the market, in the street, yet all tile time Mr Trotter persistently and absolutely rcfus i s to inspect the goods either in store or hi market, He even refuses to allow par-

cels to be sent to the inspecting room in Moore Street slaughterhon.se for inspection previous to being placed oil the market for sale. The trade in boneless beef is almost completely paralysed, only those who are fortunate to hold shipments which had already been inspee- i ted ami passed by Mr Trotter before lie took up his present attitude being able to do anything at all with it, and I'aey, of course, are making hay while they can. Uutehers as a rule, however, are lighting shy of it, and no wonder ; as seizure Ineans prosecution, and prosecution ruins their business. The only person who seems to know exactly where he stands in the matter is Mr Trotter, wllu, despite conference ol holders of box-meat, consultations with experts, deputations, and legal pronounccmeiils, keeps a "calm root" and holds out his unflcviating way. A meeting o: meat salesman interested in the question was held on Saturday last, and adl journed till to-day (Monday), when legal opinion is to be taken as to the extent of th'ft powers held by the authorities. A deputation was appointed to seek an interview with the Health Committee in the Council Chambevs. This interview was granted and took place this (.Monday) forenoon, when the views of the holders of boneless' beef were laid before the comni'ttee. Strong representations were made as to what the deputations considered the high handed proceedings of Mr Trotter in connection with the inspection of boneless beef and the committee were asked to consider the matter with a view of laying down such regulations as would

let the holders of this class of meat know when l they stood. Tile committee intimated their willingness to take the representations made into consideration, anil the deputation withdrew.'

On a \nUv (lute the same eorrespondont wrote:—" The deadlock in eonncction with Iho handling of boneless in Glasgow continues. The situation .a comic to those not immediately o;i " eerncd, but the men whoso interests are at stake "have failed to see the funny part of the business. Mr Trotter is happy now that the appointment of two additional inspectors for the inspection of boneless beef lias been approved by the committee on Police Finance. The new inspectors, when appointed, will have their hands full in workiug up arrears, whii'h keep piling up as fresh shipments arrive sit the Port of Glasgow. Since his appointment of Chief Inspector, Mr Trotter 'has so enlarged—--1 had almost said exaggerated., but moderation was ever a strong point with me—his olliee, tiiat 'now isven his employers seem to stand in awe of him. The Veterinary Officers' Association are lending a hand iu the agitation for the uniformity of meat inspection throughout the country, tliey having, at their cuiifevencc at Edinburgh, passed a resolution urging this reform upon the Government." Writing from Dunedin. Mr Alex. Fra* ser (formerly a flesher in Glasgow) says in the "Meat Trades Journal' : " Having been for many years in the bnti-hery trade in Glasgow, ami bei.ig now engaged in the same calling here. I feel qualified in venturing an opinion in regard to the above question. As you may know, it is the tlesh of bulls, cows, and in a much less proportion bullocks which is packed for export in New Zealand. Now, as a large number of bulls ami cows are slaughtered in Glasgow and neighbourhood for Home consumption, the question arises, how does the quality of the box beef compare with the Home article Y is the veterinary inspector as rigid in the abattoirs as'at Home t Are the inspectors as fully qualified for their work t Are the latest sanitary arrangements and reasonable cleanliness, observed and enforced here us at Home 'I Is the meat packed under veterinary supervision 'i If so, what possible objection can be taken to the consumption of box beef in -Glasgow or elsewhere ? "When you consider the obvious facts of the large quantities of box beef sold, and consumed in the United Kingdom, especially ill Glasgow, and the effect on the price of the llome article (which is quite dear enough at present), and the loss to this Dominion and elsewhere, .should this industry be suppressed, are the llomc authorities justitied in their intended action of putting their veto (in an industry so far-reaching us to a fleet the cost'of certain cattle at Home and abroad, and all without sufficient cause or reason? .Not to speak of the ' loss of trade and .source of labor, my ' experience of the cattle trade at Home and here leads me to answer in the

negative. M find tlic inspection of cattle" lu-rn more rigid, in some eases too much so. The object aimed at, I presume, is to give tile authorities at Home no clianee of (in«lin<i fault with the condition or quality of the goods. 11l Glasgow the meat 'inspectors will not condemn any animal that is free of disease, wliilc here that is nut sullicicat guarantee, to allow an animal being passed. If it is the least emaciated, although entirely free of any disease, it is rejected as unlit for human consumption, and some of the animals rejected here would bring a good price in the Glasgow market. Tile inspectors here are fully qualified men. who have passed all their stringent examinations, and are above all bribery or corruption of any kind. The abattoirs are kept scrupulously clean, and the packing is done under veterinary supervision ; hi fact, every possible precaution is taken to ensure the meat being placed in the markets at Home, : n good condition. 1 'had some qualms myself liel'ove I left Home regarding box beef, being always suspicious of it, but all my doubts have been removed since ascertaining the true facts of tiic case. "The motive that has prompted lue to write yoli the above unbiassed statements is a desire to do justice to this colony, which is endeavouring to uphold the Jiritisli reputation for straight dealing even in this out-of-the-way corner of the earth. Surely they deserve better treatment and more consideration for their pains. Before doing anything rash or hasty, the authorities at Home should make adequate inquiry into the business, or they may repent doing an injustice of serious consequence. It is my 'honest opinion there is more virulent disease in a pennyworth of milk sold hi (llasgow than there is in ill cases of New Zealand box beef. The climate being very mild in New Zealand all kinds of cattle are kept in the open air all the year round, and an l thr'ivfore wonderfully free irom the diseases that allect cattle at Nome." Another correspondent writing '»n Uiv *ame subject to tlii! Daily Kxpress. says:

- l'n Xew Zealand live stock is sold by public auction at auctioneers* saleyards. The stock is there inspected by (Joverninent *i»K-k inspectors, and if a beast is suspected or condemned, it is taken charge of by the inspectors, who have it slaughtered under their supervision, and if it is found infected the tiovcrnmeiit pay half its value to the auctioneers acting for the owner, the \iluc being determined h\ the auctioneer:, and ill spectors as if it were a sound beast. If the bea*t after being slaughtered ,-lionld prove to he sound the (Jowniment pay iU full value. All meat is inspected ill the public abattoir* by Ho-j vernnient inspectors before it is til-1 lowed to go into consumption.*' 1