TUBERCULOSIS IN MEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14355, 27 October 1908, Page 5

TUBERCULOSIS IN MEAT

—— «- « CAMPAIGN IN ENGLAND.. BUTCHERS DEMAiND WARRANTIES. ' (Fkom Our Owk Correspondent.) LONDON, September 16. For years past the butchers have borne all the loss caused, by the condemnation of animals which on being slaughtered have been found to be tuberculous. Tho farmers have never given guarantees as to freedom front disease, and the butchers have had to take the loss. Quite recently the National Federation of Meat Traders decided that after November 2 they would not buy live cattle without an express warranty from the'vendor that the animal is absolutely ■ free from diseaso and fit for human food. By taking this bold step the butchers assert that they are saving themselves from prosecution for selling bad meat, and ensuring that the public has good meat.. supplied to it. 1 , The London butchers'met'this week, on the invitation of the Incorporated Society of London Meat Traders, and decided to fall in with tho-country butchers, making the further provision 'that the warranty should remain in force for a period of 10 days after the delivery of the cattle. Mr J. Lindsay,.who presided, said that for 20 years the trade had'been suffering under the ■ grievous wrong of being responsible. for diseased cattle which they purchased -without,.the slightest idea, that it. waa affected. Now they, were determined to adopt'the advice' of. the Lord Chief Justice, who, in tho test case of Newbury v. Perpw.'ic, said the butcher's remedy -was an express warranty at the time of ; purchase. The. wholesale trade was with them to a. man—(cheers),—and so was.the retail trade. The btiteiicrs dc.sired to do all the.y could to prevent the spread of -tuberculosis, but the penalty should 'fall upon 'the 'real culprit, the farmer, who knew when an animal was diseased at, ihe time ho sold it. If they had a warranty, there would be no need for concealment, and farmers would have to keep their stock clear of disease. He regretted that farmers in some parts of the country had shown a vindictive feeling, and had said that rather than give a warranty they would not send cattle to market. That was a. foolish attitude to take, for they could insure their stock at from 6d to Is per head for £20 to £25 beasts. DEADLOCK PROBABLE. But this will not he the end of it. The farmers, through their Chambers of Agriculture, are uniting to resist the. meat trade's demand, contending that it would he unjust thai the loss should fall on them, as it is rarely possible to detect tuberculosis in animals until they have been slaughtered. ]t has a.lso been suggreted ithat of the butchers will not buy without a warranty the farmers will outer the meat hade, anil kill their own cattle. The secretary of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, .in an interview, .-aid tho farmers had no desire to quarrel with the butchers; their .'interests .were very .nearly if not identical. If the farmers 6tood firm lie could not see how the butchers could stand by their resolution. There was not, an unlimited supply of moil which could 1« called into tho market whenever it was wanted, and if the butchers as a whole said they would not buy English meat, the question was. "Where are they going to get their meat from?" Asked what- was suggested by agriculturists as a fair settlement for both sides. Mr Miller said the Government should establish u fund from which the owners of animate found on slaughtering to be diseased could hi compensated.