§ 30 and 36. Mr. STANTONasked (1) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether on Tuesday, 5th June, a deputation from Smithfield Market, consisting very largely of the same persons who procured the holding up of Govern- 183 ment imported mutton in March last in order to prevent a fall in the price of Scotch mutton, visited his Department and were interviewed by a person named Towle and suggested certain amendments to the Meat Trades Order; whether he will state what those proposals were, in order that the workers' committee for Smith-field Market and the riverside cold stores will be enabled to give the matter their consideration before any alterations in the Order are made; (2) the President of the Board of Trade whether a committee of the London Central Markets Association are seeking to influence his Depart-men with regard to the maximum prices of meat; and whether, before adopting any scale of maximum prices as suggested by these persons, he will take the opinion of the respective trade unions of the workers in the trade?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANTwo representatives of the London Central Markets Association were invited to discuss matters relating to the control of the meat markets with the head of the section dealing with such matters, who has similarly consulted all other sections of the trade. No Amendments were suggested to the Meat Sales Order, and the interview with them, as with others who have been consulted, was confined to obtaining information on technical questions necessary to a full examination of the subject.
§ 37. Mr. STANTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the majority of the cold-air stores and of the salesmen who handle Government meat are paying less than the trade union rate of wages recognised for cold-produce work by the respective trade unions concerned; and whether his Department, before trouble arises, will intimate to all these concerns that it is their duty to pay the standard rate of wages?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Roberts)If my hon. Friend will supply me with particulars of the rates of wages now being paid by the employers referred to, and of the wages claimed by the trade unions concerned, I will cause inquiries to be made.
§ 43. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his Department has issued a 184 recommendation to local authorities that they should sterilise and place for sale for the purpose of human consumption the meat of cattle affected with tuberculosis, and that such meat should be disposed of to the poor; and if he can state how many authorities are acting on this suggestion?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. ANDERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that municipalities such as Aberdeen are acting on this suggestion, and that it apparently comes from the Local Government Board?
§ Mr. FISHERI believe that Aberdeen and one or two places are making experiments of this kind. The Local Government Board have not thought fit, on the evidence, to make any recommendation.
§ Mr. ANDERSONWould the Local Government Board on the evidence discourage the practice of selling sterilised tuberculous meat to poor people?
§ Mr. FISHERNo, Sir. If municipalities are willing to make the experiment we should not put any obstacle in the way of their making it, but we are not prepared on any evidence that has yet been adduced to make any recommendation to the municipalities that they should make this experiment.
§ 44. Mr. STANTONasked whether, owing to high prices and profiteering, meat within the last fortnight has been held up until it reached a putrid condition; and whether he will state the total amount seized by the inspectors of the City of London and the twenty-seven Metropolitan boroughs for each of the weeks ending 10th June and 17th June?
§ Mr. FISHERThe Department has been in communication with the authorities referred to. I am informed that twenty-five authorities have not had occasion to seize any unsound meat during the period mentioned. I am making further inquiries as to the conditions under which considerable quantities have been seized by the inspectors in the City of London and the boroughs of Finsbury and Southwark, and I am communicating with the Ministry of Food.