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50
56. No action was taken with reference to the other Bills
-above mentioned.
Meat Supply.
57. Alderman Lindsey and Councillor Kingston were appointed
the representatives of the Council to attend
a conference of representatives of Metropolitan
Borough Councils to consider the meat supply of the kingdom,
and the present restrictions on the importation of live cattle for
slaughter, when the following resolutions were passed, viz.:—
"(a) That this Conference, after carefully considering the information at
its disposal, and bearing in mind the conclusions arrived at by the
Departmental Committee appointed to enquire into combinations in
the meat trade, and also the serious rise which has taken place in
the price of beef in the past two years, is of opinion that the meat
supply of the Metropolis is in an extremely unsatisfactory position.
"(b) This Conference is further of opinion that, owing to the failure of the
home supply to increase in proportion to the national demand, the
decrease in the numbers of live cattle imported, and the increased
necessity of depending upon supplies of chilled and frozen meat, it is
easier for the trade to be effectually controlled by large and powerful
trusts or combinations of companies.
"(c) This Conference is further of opinion that the time has arrived when
the needs of large urban communities, which have to rely to a great
extent upon imported meat, call for a relaxation of the present
restrictions upon the importation of foreign cattle for immediate
slaughter, in order that channels other than those now available may
be opened up for supplying this country with meat.
"(d) That the Mayor of Westminster be requested to ask the Prime
Minister to receive a deputation on the subject, in order that this
Conference may place its views before the Government.
"(e) 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 of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
"(f) That the Resolution be also sent to City and Borough Corporations
and Municipalities with a population exceeding 100,000, and to the
Association of Municipal Corporations."
The Prime Minister was not able to receive the deputation,
and a further conference was held, when the following resolutions
were passed, viz.:—
"(a) That the Mayor of the City 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.