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120
MARKING OF MEAT:
In the Annual Report for 1906 it was pointed out that when the new
Public Abattoir, established by the Corporation to take the place of the
private slaughterhouses that had hitherto existed at the Metropolitan Cattle
Market at Islington, under the control of the Corporation, was opened, an
excellent opportunity would be presented of initiating a system of marking
meat, that on inspection was found to fulfil the requirements of the Local
Government Board recommendations with regard to meat inspection.
Several reasons were advanced for making this suggestion. Stated briefly,
they were as under:—
(i.) The promotion of the interests of British Agriculturists.
(ii.) When purchasing marked meat the public is guaranteed that not only
are they buying British produce, but also that the meat is
unquestionably wholesome.
With regard to (i.), considerations of space prevent any enlargement on this
point, but some figures given and arguments advanced on pages 121 and 122
of the Report for 1906, referred to above, should command serious attention.
In June, 1907, I recommended to the Sanitary Committee that the Cattle
Markets Committee of the Corporation should be invited to give this
suggestion their consideration.
This course was agreed to, and in September following, the Cattle Markets
Committee reported that although concurring in the view that marking of
meat, if general, would greatly benefit Agriculturists, they were of opinion
that the time was not yet ripe for introducing the principle. The matter is
still under consideration.
SUGGESTED MEAT MARKET DEPOT AT CENTRAL
MARKETS, SMITHFIELD.
In October, 1907, in introducing this subject to the Sanitary Committee, I
adverted to the question of Meat Marking at Islington—referred to above —
and to the opinion expressed by Mr. King, Veterinary Surgeon to the
Corporation, to the effect that he agreed with the principle of meat marking,
and that such marking would greatly benefit Agriculturists, also that there is
little doubt that a great deal of foreign meat is sold as Home produce.