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203
Also, with respect to the examination of food stuffs at wharves, see
Inspectors' reports, pages 246, 257, 270 and 276.
Conference to consider the Meat Supply of the Kingdom and
the present Restrictions on the Importation of Live Cattle
for Slaughter.
At a further Conference of Representatives of Metropolitan Borough
Councils (the first Conference having been held on 12th October, 1909),
convened by the Greenwich Borough Council to consider the Meat Supply
of the Kingdom and the present Restrictions on the Importation of Live
Cattle for Slaughter, held (by the courtesy of the Westminster City
Council) at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, on Monday, the 28th February,
1910, at 3 o'clock p.m., the following resolutions were passed:—
(a) "That the Mayor of Westminster be asked to approach
the Prime Minister and urge him to reconsider his refusal to receive
a Deputation as asked at the previous Conference" ;
(b) "That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the London
Borough Councils asking whether they will support and are prepared
to join in this Deputation"; and
(c) "That copies of the above Resolution be sent to all
Members of Parliament representing Metropolitan Constituencies,
to the Corporation of the City of London, the London County
Council, and to the Corporations, Cities and Boroughs which have
replied to the circular letter sent by this Conference, and asked to
use their influence with the Prime Minister to receive a Deputation.''
In October, 1909, the Council approved resolutions adopted at a
Conference of Borough Councils, expressing the opinion that the meat
supply of London is in an extremely unsatisfactory position, that owing
to the failure of the home supply to increase in proportion to the national
demand, the decrease in live cattle imported, and the consequent increased
necessity of depending upon supplies of chilled and frozen meat, it had
become easy for the trade to be controlled by powerful trusts. It was
further agreed the time had arrived for the relaxation of the restrictions
upon importation of foreign cattle for immediate slaughter, in order that
other sources of supply may be available.
The Prime Minister was approached with a view to receiving a