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48
The importers wrote to the Local Government Board on the subject, and
the Local Government Board communicated with your Medical Officer as
follows:—
"Local Government Board,
"Whitehall, S.W.
"22nd January, 1910.
"I am directed by the Local Government Board to advert to your
"letter of the 21st inst., addressed to Dr. Buchanan, and to forward for
"your information the enclosed copy of a letter from Messrs. Vestey
"Brothers, of Nos. 13-16, West Smithfield, together with a copy of the
"Board's reply.
"I am, Sir,
"Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) "F. J. WILLIS,
"Assistant Secretary."
"Local Government Board,
"Whitehall, S.W.
"22nd January, 1910.
"Gentlemen,
"I am directed by the Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letters
"of the 20th and 21st instant with reference to the action of the Medical
"Officer of Health for the Port of London Sanitary District in regard to
"a consignment of pig carcasses from China per the s.s. ' Graf Muravjef.'
"In reply I am to state that, as the Board understand, the carcasses
"have had the backbone removed, the Board could not regard them as
"coming under any other category of the Public Health (Foreign Meat)
"Amending Regulations, 1909, than that of 'Foreign Meat of Class I,'
"and thus endorse the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health.
"Under the circumstances, the Board doubt whether there could be
"any advantage in any formal steps being taken under Article XVII of
"the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, 1908, for the
"determination of the difference on the subject.
"I am, Gentlemen,
"Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) "F. J. WILLIS,.
"Assistant Secretary.
"Messrs. Vestey, Bros."
The importers applied to your Medical Officer for permission to remove 100
of the pig carcasses from the vessel to the Victoria Dock Refrigerator for a
special purpose. This was sanctioned on the understanding that the carcasses
were not to be removed without the permission of the Port of London Sanitary
Authority.