DEAR MEAT FOR THE WINTER.
A- FOREIGN war could hardly threaten this country with greater distress than the operation of the Orders in Council upon the Foreign Cattle Trade. We pointed out last week that the losses incurred by the importers under the present system were so great, thatin all probability, if the reitiictions were main- tained they 'would bring the traffic to an end altogether, and we have since been informed that such is, in fact, the determination of the trade. The impOrters assert, and no dbubt truly, that the uncertainty Whether- their cattle-cargoes will be admitted to the English markets or - slaughtered summarily at Deptford destreys their chalice of Making a fair profit, even at the cutrent high price of Meat. We do not know, of course, ho* the facts may be pre- emery, but the'eoridernnation of cargoes in the port of London is even -a more setioull Matter to these shippers than We were able lad Week to ithow. Since We drew attention to the subject, some important info-rmation has been published in the daily papers. From a report in the Daily Telegraph, it appears that the total number of sheep condemned and slaughtered at Deptford under the Orders in Council during the week ending August 15th was 2,650, while the animals pronounced to be diseased among all these were less than half-a-dozen. We cited some of the cases last week, but the entire record deserves attention :—" On the 8th inst., the Leo,' a cattle steamer from Rotterdam, landed a cargo of 642 sheep ; one of these was found to be suffering from foot disease, and thereupon the whole of her cargo had to be reshipped to Deptford and immediately killed. Three days later the 'Florence,' another Rotterdam steamer, brought over 1,160 sheep and lambs ; of her cargo one lamb was pronounced to be infected, and the whole ordered to be killed. Again, three days later, 623 sheep, brought by the same vessel, were ordered to Deptford and slaughtered because one sheep was infected. The next day, Sunday last, the ' Leo ' brought 225 sheep, of which three were suspected and one declared to have the foot disease ; and according to rule, the whole of the flock were slaughtered." These condemned cargoes represent a Considerable proportion of the meat supply of London. Some apologists of the Orders in Council speak slightingly of the foreign importation of animals, as if it were insignificant compared with our home production of meat, but for London, at all events, the statistics of the Metro- politan Cattle Market tell a different story. In the fortnight ending August 15, the total supply of animals entered for sale in the Metropolitan Cattle Market was 55,026; and of these 28,502 were imported. Moreover, the Board of Trade Returns, though they do not exhibit anything like this proportion of imported as compared with home-bred cattle, bear witness to the growing traffic. In the first seven months of 1874, the number of live stock imported into the United Kingdom was 588,000, and their money value was less than two millions and a quarter. In the seven months ending July 31st, 1875, the numbers were 740,000, and their value close upon four millions sterling. If, however, the importers are in earnest, as there is every reason to believe they are, and if the Orders in Council be not relaxed, the whole of this vast supply will be at once stopped. Even as it is, we have a right to suppose that the capricious condemnation of cargoes among which so much as one "tainted wether" is to be found have had a serious effect upon the price of meat, but by the direct and indirect restriction of the supply. What is to be apprehended, however, is not the tampering with the market in this way, but the total cessation of the business, through the disin- clination of the importers to retain their capital any longer in a traffic which is exposed to such incalculable hazards. The consequences to the consumer it is not difficult to estimate. If we looked at the Metropolitan Meat Markets only, we might arrive at the conclu- sion that more than half the supply being cut off, the price would be doubled, and that prime joints would sell for more than two shillings a pound. But remembering that the foreign supply comes mainly into the London market, and that prices would gradually equalise themselves over the whole country, it is pro- bably accurate to say that the stoppage of the trade in imported cattle and sheep would not push the price of beef and mutton much higher than is. 8d. a pound. This is a moderate calculation, and if consumers—that is to say, the whole of the public, high and low—take it to heart, they will not perhaps remain in an attitude of deferential apathy towards the proceedings of the Privy Council.
For what does an increase to this extent in the price of meat mean ? It means the imposition of a "war income-tax" on every one, three or four times heavier than any Government has ever dared to ask this country to pay. It means a tax from which the poorest cannot obtain exemption, except by voluntary priva- tions most disagreeable in themselves, and very possibly injurious to health. No shiftiness, no patsimony will save the consumer from the exaction of this heavy fine, which is levied not for the benefit of the State, but as there is the best reason to presume, for the advan- tage of -a class. The restrictions of the foreign cattle trade are re- garded by the English stock-breeding interest in a very different light. -The Farmer, a journal devoted to the agricultural interest, discusses the statentents of the importers who waited on the Duke of Richmond a fortnight ago in a Very acrimonious spirit. Accord- ing to this organ of class-feeling the present half-measures of the Privy Council must be abandoned, and total prohibition of the foreign trade in animals must be insisted upon. "Foreign dis- ease," we are assured, "continually revived, by the introduction of foreign live stock, destroys more food and creates a greater loss to -the nation than the gross value of all the animals we im- port. Here lies the true cause of the high price of meat. It in true that under existing regulations importers from other coun- tries are a little harassed by the occasional slaughter at the port of landing of whole cargoes of animals consigned by them. The difficulty they chiefly labour under is the uncertainty which ac- companies the fate of their consignments." The argument turns wholly upon the first point ; if it be for the benefit of the country to exclude the foreign supply, the interests of the im- porters must not be allowed—and we may be sure will not be allowed—to stand in the way. But then two things have to be proved—of which proof at present is wanting—that disease is only imported from abroad, and that the home supply would be increased if the importation were forbidden. It is said :—" Once exterminate foreign contagious disease—by simply cutting off the supply—and the vast recuperative powers of British agriculture would enable breeders to increase the supply of meat more quickly than if we opened all our ports to all the cattle that the Continent can spare us for many years to come." But before this fine promise is fulfilled, we shall have meat at Is. 8d. or 2s. a pound. The allegation that contagious disease is altogether imported is surely unproved, and at any rate, the precautions which are held sufficient in the case of cattle exported from Ire- land, ought to be effective in the case of those that are brought from the Continent. But we have now a different weight and measure for the foreign dealer, who can bring no pressure to bear on the Government, and for the British farmer, whose county Member can speak up for him stoutly at Whitehall.
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