THE MEAT MARKING BILL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 6, 2 May 1896, Page 2

THE MEAT MARKING BILL.

Tin: Agricultural Produce (.Maries) Act, IM.'fS, which pas'-ed its second reading in the House of Commons im the IKlh ?■ fivrt-li last, is a meagre of considerimportance to the producers of Australasia. Messrs \\. Weddell and Co. liiut' very thoughtfully forwarded a copy of the Biil to tJioir correspondents in the colonics, and wo arc thus in a, position lo understand its purport. Til' - measure seeks primarily to disci imiuate between I (onie-grown meat and ilonic-manufactured cheese and the foreign importations, and "while di signed to protect tlie Bnti<h fans;i r from inc dishonest v of butchers

and ]>;•<<duc.' d< a.]'.'!'- - , it afiicts colonial productions beneficially. The Biii provides that each carca-io or piece of fori igu meat shall hear a label or mark containing in printed capital letters the words " Foreign Moat," or " Colonial MYat," in such manner as to he clearly visible to the purchaser. Every person dealing in foreign and colonial meat mmt at'iix the words " J)ealer in Foreign and Colonial Meat" on shop, stall, or vehicle, such words to ho )>ri)Ui d or painted in capital letters not less than one inch and a-half square. The Bill also provides for the registration of dealers in foreign and colonial meat; and notice of registration must be advertised, and tlie register open to public inspection. The local authorities are given power to appoint inspectors and other oliicers to enforce tiie provisions of the Act. The penalties are fixed at, for a first oftence, a line not exceeding five pounds, and for a second or any subsequent offence a fine not exceeding twenty pounds. The Act would be nearly perfect if, instead of marking the imported article simply as Foreign Meal," or " Colonial Meat," the name of the country or colony from which it came was given. New Zealand admittedly sends the best quality of mutton to London, and if merely marked Colonial Meat,'" there is nothing to distinguish it from Ausira.lia.n mutton. This is a point that will probably receive attention when the Bill gets into Committee, and if amended in the direction indicated, it should prove of great benefit to New Zealand. If wo can rescue our mutton from the dishonesty of the retailers, we believe our graziers would receive very much better returns than they now obtain.