§ MR. RITCHIEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that a largo quantity of meat returned from Egypt in the steamship "Orient," as being unsound, was, on its arrival in this Country, offered for sale in the London market, under the authority of the War Department; whether such meat was seized and destroyed by order of the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London; and, whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House any Correspondence which has taken place between the War Office and the Port of London Sanitary Authority on the subject?
MR. BRANDThe Orienttook out 75 tons of frozen meat for the troops in her cold chamber, which was drawn upon up to the 6th of September, the day of her leaving Ismailia for England. At that time between 30 and 40 tons of meat were left on board, which came home. This meat was placed in a cold chamber in the Victoria Docks on discharge of the Orient,and a well-known firm of butchers, accustomed to deal in frozen meats, was instructed to take steps for the disposal of such as was fit for food. That firm was distinctly ordered by the Director of Contracts not to sell airy of the meat that was tainted, or open to the suspicion of being tainted. Unfortunately, two samples of the meat were sent to Holborn, one of which was condemned by the District Inspector, and the other passed as sound. The whole of the meat in the cold chamber was then seized and condemned by the City Sanitary Authority. There are no reasons for laying the Correspondence on the Table.
§ MR. RITCHIEWill the right hon. Gentleman say why it was that such instructions were given?
§ MR. RITCHIEI beg to give Notice that I shall move for the production of the Correspondence.