Mr. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask leave to introduce a Bill to prohibit the sale of immature meat.
The Bill is one of very considerable importance. I am sure that if hon. Members knew of the evils which arise from the consumption of immature meat, and from the slaughter of calves immediately after their birth, they would very soon put a stop to the practice. It is a fact that a large number of calves are slaughtered immediately on birth, and then sold to the poor people of the country as food. How many of these calves are 2128 slaughtered yearly it is impossible for me to say, but I think it is the absolute duty of the Board of Agriculture that they should make full investigations into the subject. Doctors do not quite agree as to whether this food is necessarily unwholesome. The veal which is consumed by well-to-do and fairly prosperous people in this country is probably some four or five weeks old; but hon. Members will agree that it is extremely improper that poor people should have these carcases of calves, slaughtered immediately they are born, when the carcase is a mere fœtus, sold to them for food. It is extremely wasteful, and it is nothing 2129 short of a swindle on the poor people of the country. I ask leave to introduce a Bill.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Cathcart Wason, Dr. Addison, Sir John Barlow, Mr. Falconer, Mr. Glover, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. Lonsdale, Mr. Walter Long, Mr. Jeremiah MacVeagh, Mr. Munro Ferguson, and Mr. Wilkie. Presented accordingly, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Tuesday, 22nd November.