§ MR. WATTI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the quantities of boneless meat which are being imported into this country from Now Zealand and Australia; if so, is he aware that much 278 of it has been condemned by the local authorities, but that this condemnation is accompanied by a statement to the effect that it is impossible to examine every box and find out all the faulty; and whether, in these circumstances, he will issue instructions forbidding meat in that form to be imported.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaConsiderable quantities of boneless meat are imported into this country from New Zealand and also some from Australia, but I am not aware that in recent months there has been any exceptional condemnation of it in England and Wales, with which alone I am concerned in this matter, or that the condemnation has been accompanied by a statement to the effect mentioned. As regards the last part of the Question, I may draw attention to the Foreign Meat Regulations which I lately issued and which will come into force on 1st January next. The regulations will have the effect of preventing the importation for consumption in England and Wales of meat of the class referred to.
§ MR. WATTasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would undertake to see that these importers would suffer detriment if steps were not taken to hinder defective meat of this description from being brought into the country.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSsaid that if the meat was unsound and unfit for consumption the importers would labour under the same disability as the butcher or grocer under the English law who tries to pass unsound food into circulation.