§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked by what authority the view is entertained at the War Office that there is no difference in the nutritive value of home-killed and imported chilled meat as supplied under contract for the troops; and whether, in 876 view of the allegation that the Swift Meat Company and other American firms previously extract by machinery the juice of the meat for conversion into bovril and other soups, he would cause analyses to be made from time to time of such imported meat, in order to ascertain the actual and relative amount of nitrogenous and other nutritive matter contained in it?
§ Colonel SEELYThe view entertained at the War Office is based on a report of a scientific investigation by Samuel Rideal, Doctor of Science, London, published in 1907. The extraction of juices from the meat previous to refrigeration is a process of which there is no knowledge in the War Office, and I am informed that if such process did take place the carcase would bear such signs of it as to render detection certain on ordinary inspection.
§ Mr. GRETTONWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire from our Ambassador at Washington if there is any additional information to that already possessed at the War Office?
§ Colonel SEELYI think we have all the information. I do not think the practice referred to exists.
§ Mr. GRETTONWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not think it is necessary to inquire from our Ambassador at Washington on a technical point on which the experts probably are better informed. If the hon. Member wants to raise the whole question of the meat contract, I may say we are making inquiries in many directions, and have taken action in the last twenty-four hours. On the specific point the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware there is a vast difference between chilled and home-killed meat, and that there is no nutriment in chilled meat?