§ 37. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a quantity of quarters of beef was marketed this week by the American beef companies; if he will say whether this was imported from our colonies in Canada; whether he is aware that this beef was slaughtered at St. Johns on the 6th February last, slaughtering certificate taken from quarter of beef pur1 chased in Smithfield on Tuesday this week attached, and was therefore lying held up in a cold store seven or eight days' voyage from Liverpool during the whole period which prices were being screwed up in this country; and whether he will explain who was to blame for a state of affairs like this?
Mr. HARCOURTSmall quantities of frozen and chilled meat are from time to time brought from Canada and the United States to the United Kingdom. They are imported and sold on private account, and I am not acquainted with the circumstances in which they are bought. I am unable to say whether the retention of the meat to which my hon. Friend refers in cold store in Canada was due to a shortage of insulated tonnage or to the motive which he suggests. The Board of Trade have for some time been anxious to resume their purchases of full cargoes of Canadian beef, but the prices at which tenders have been made have not been satisfactory.
§ Mr. THORNEIf I hand the right hon. Gentleman this slaughter ticket, will he consider the matter?